The National Agency for Consumer Protection fines 265 Lidl stores and closes 24 in Romania. “We are not the pelicans of Europe” says the head of ANPC.

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  1. > Translated article text:

    Several Lidl stores across the country have been sanctioned for selling expired and mouldy products, with fines amounting to 3.5 million lei, according to a press release from the National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC).

    The most important irregularities found by the ANPC were the marketing of food products with an outdated use-by date, the marketing of pastry products with insects on the surface, the marketing of alcoholic beverages with labelling deficiencies (lack of some ingredients on the label), the marketing of vegetables and fruit that were not properly cleaned, qualitatively impaired, with mould, organoleptically altered, of different sizes and of unhygienised eggs, the press release said.

    ANPC representatives also identified differences between the price on the label and the price on the product, as well as between the price on the shelf and the price at the cash register. Several shops were using unhygienic display cases for the sale of bakery products, refrigerated display cases that were not properly sanitised, with dirty doors, dust, slime, leaking liquids and rust, and refrigerated cases with massive, excessive accumulations of ice, dust, impurities, food debris and hair. In addition, live insects were found in the cooking and baking area and several products did not have a label as required by law, as the information lacked translation into Romanian.

    “I don’t know enough German to translate what I used to say: we are not the pelicans of Europe! The Romanian consumer, who provides your income, must be respected! Renovate, clean up, bring in quality products, stop looking for ways to make us ‘take it easy’! If your country is clean and tidy, consider this country and its citizens as part of Europe! We deserve to be treated honourably! What do you think?” said Horia Constantinescu, President of ANPC.

    According to the same source, 265 shops were inspected and the following sanctions were applied: 347 fines totalling 3.5 million lei; 144 warnings; permanent suspension of the sale of non-compliant food products worth around 75,000 lei; temporary suspension of services until the deficiencies are remedied for 24 establishments; closure of the establishment for a period of up to 6 months for four shops; closure of the establishment for a period of 6-12 months for one establishment.

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