Owners of Byrnes Londis shop in Tullamore fined €650 plus costs for failing to display prices
4 April 2007 - Biddford Foods Limited, owners of Byrnes Londis Shop O'Carroll St. Tullamore Co. Offaly pleaded guilty at Tullamore District Court to 18 breaches of the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002. These breaches related to failing to display prices or unit prices of a number of grocery items.
The offences occurred on 9 May 2006 and 13 June 2006.
In mitigation Judge O' Neill took into account store's problems with its scanning equipment. He also took into account the fact that the company had no previous convictions. The Judge, however, expressed concerns that despite the owners being warned by the inspector in the course of the first inspection, the number of breaches had increased from 8 to 10 at the time of the second inspection.
Biddford Foods Limited was fined €250 in respect of the first count. Counts 2 to 8 were taken into account. A fine of €400 was imposed in respect of count 9. The remaining 9 breaches were taken into consideration. Costs of € 500 plus VAT and €250 in expenses was also awarded.
Commenting on the Court's decision, the Director of Consumer Affairs and Executive Chair of the National Consumer Agency, Ms. Ann Fitzgerald said, "the current price display legislation is in place since 2002 and numerous retail outlets have been prosecuted for failing to display their prices over the past few years. Despite ongoing monitoring and several prosecutions, retailers continue to exploit consumers by failing to properly display their prices. This is totally unacceptable"
The NCA Chair advised that in addition to putting the NCA on a statutory footing, the new Consumer Protection Bill, which isexpected to become law shortly after Easter and will provide a range of new enforcement powers. These measures include the power to issue fixed payment fines in respect of breaches of price display legislation. It will also provide for the establishment of a new "Consumer Protection List" and enable the Agency to name and shame traders who breach consumer laws. Ms. Fitzgerald added "when the new legislation is enacted the NCA will maximise the usage of the various enforcement tools to deliver better protection to consumers".