In a statement, ASAE said that, within the scope of Operation Deposit, “the total suspension of the activity of three establishments was determined, due to the illegal exercise of the warehousing activity and the subsequent placement on the market of products without the proper identification mark”.

According to the authority, more than 17 tons of various foodstuffs were seized, as well as 313 kilos of live crustaceans, “all with an estimated value of more than €68,000”.

According to ASAE, “three administrative offence proceedings were instituted due to the lack of a veterinary control number (NCV), assigned by the competent authority, which ensures that food safety standards and the legal provisions of the applicable regulations are complied with, both before both consumers and control authorities, a fact that was not complied with by these economic operators”.

The operation was carried out in the municipalities of Guimarães and Fafe, in the district of Braga, and Póvoa de Varzim, district of Porto, by the Industries Brigade of the Northern Regional Unit – Porto Operational Unit.

The objective of this inspection action was to “ensure compliance with legal standards for food safety and economic activity”.