Groupe Éthier Inc. Fined $8,000 for Offences under the Canada Agricultural Products Act and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations

Montreal, Quebec, November 6, 2011: On June 22, 2011, at the Saint-Jérôme Courthouse, Groupe Éthier Inc., located in Mirabel, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the Canada Agricultural Products Act and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations which occurred in February 2009.

The Court of Quebec ordered the company to pay a $8,000 fine for the offences.

The first offence consisted of trading potatoes interprovincially, in violation of section 17 of the Canada Agricultural Products Act and paragraph 29(1)(b) of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations. The company shipped potatoes grown in New Brunswick to Quebec without receiving the required authorization.

The second offence concerned a contravention to subsection 6(1) of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations for having packaged potatoes in a container with a label bearing a false statement with respect to the quality of the produce. According to the label, the potatoes were graded Canada No. 1 when they were actually Canada No. 2 potatoes.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for enforcing a variety of federal legislation, including the Canada Agricultural Products Act and its regulations that govern the marketing of agricultural products (import, export and interprovincial trade).

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