In the midst of the debate on the escalation of the prices of basic foods in supermarkets and the margins of the large distribution chains, the Government has published the first list of fines for non-compliance with the Food Chain Law, which includes sanctions for dozens of companies, including some of those with the largest market share in Spain, such as Carrefour and Dia.
Failure to comply with payment terms, the absence of written contracts or the non-inclusion of the price in the contracts, as well as the modification of the price without being expressly agreed are the main reasons for the fines imposed by the Food Information and Control Agency (AICA), a body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Up to 69 companies appear on the first list of firm sanctions for serious and very serious breaches of the Food Chain Law made public by the department led by Luis Planas. Although it must be emphasized that the list, although it is not very extensive in detail, does not include any penalty for having sold at a loss, one of the main objectives pursued by the Law.
Among the companies fined are two giants of food distribution in Spain such as Carrefour and Dia. The subsidiary company of the French multinational Carrefour Shopping Centers has received a fine of 3,001 euros for failing to meet payment deadlines. For its part, Dia Retail Spain has received two fines for the same reason, 3,001 euros and 3,899.12 euros, respectively. The Galician Distribuciones Froiz, which has received a firm sanction for the same amount of 3,001 euros, has also been fined for failing to meet the payment deadlines.
Also noteworthy on the list is the beverage manufacturer J. García Carrión, owner of brands such as Don Simón juices, fined 9,147.81 euros for failing to meet payment deadlines, while Pistachios de la Mancha has received two sanctions, one of 10,449, 24 euros for non-compliance with payment terms and another of 3,001 euros for not formalizing food contracts in writing, as stated in the publication of the fines for the first quarter.
The largest amount of sanction of the 69 imposed by the Control Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture has fallen on Ray Lech, a company dedicated to the wholesale trade of dairy products, eggs, oils and edible fats, which receives two fines, one of 3,001 euros for non-compliance with payment terms and another of 11,500 euros for not formalizing the food contracts in writing and not incorporating the price in them.
Among those penalized also stand out the fines to Transformaciones Agrícolas de Badajoz (Transa) of 7,558.75 euros for non-compliance with payment terms and 9,000 euros to Inleit Ingredients for making changes to the price included in the contract that are not expressly agreed by the parts.
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