Merchants who sell their agricultural produce at the farmers market in Ta’ Qali, the Pitkalija, are concerned by the apparent increase in cases where imported produce is passed off as local.

The latest case took place yesterday, when foreign products were seized and a seller was put under investigation.

The government said Pitkalija officers noticed that imported products were being negotiated. The products were seized and investigations started.

The parliamentary secretariat for agriculture said that it is committed to see that abusive practices that can deceive the consumer are stopped and that local products are safeguarded.

Sources who spoke to The Malta Independent said this was the second time in the past few months that a seller had been caught with imported produce. While all sorts of fruit and vegetables can be imported into the country, only locally produced fruit and veg can enter the Pitkalija.

A few months ago a trader named John Bonavia was caught selling imported produce and his pit at the market was closed for some time.

Trader Emanuel Cachia was caught doing the same this week. His pit has not been closed yet but he is being investigated.

The sources said some traders went to great lengths to disguise imported produce as local, often placing it in local packaging. In some cases it is quite difficult to tell the difference between local and foreign produce, the explained, including with vegetables such as marrows and aubergines.

The sources said, however, that there is also an issue of lack of monitoring of what goes into the premises. More regulations and enforcement are needed, the sources said.