Haji Cash and Carry sees more than £13,000 go up in smoke after breaking law on display of tobacco

Haji Cash and Carry has been ordered to pay more than £13,000 in fines and costs after being found guilty of three offences related to the sale of niche tobacco.

Haji, in Lower Tweedale Street, was accused of placing niche, or chewing, tobacco on public display, even though the law states that all tobacco should be out of view.

The company were also found to have sold niche tobacco with no health warnings on the packaging and kept it in an area of the shop within easy reach of children.

Bury and Magistrate’s court heard that public protection officers from Rochdale Council visited the company in March and May 2012 and offered advice on both occasions. But they were forced to seize 35 packets of niche tobacco on a third visit in September 2012 when they found the company were still in breach of the law.

On Monday 17 February the company appeared before the court and was ordered to pay £3000 in fines with costs of £10,553.75 following an investigation by Rochdale Council’s public protection and legal teams and the Illicit Tobacco Team North West.

Their claim that the products had been deliberately placed on the shelves by a disgruntled employee was dismissed by District Judge Jonathan Finestein.

The company was found guilty of breaching the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 ,the Health Act 2009 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Councillor Jacquie Beswick, Cabinet Member for Regulation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Niche, or chewing, tobacco is every bit as dangerous as cigarettes, so shopkeepers must be aware that all the same laws apply to their display and packaging. These rules are an important way of protecting people’s health and preventing unnecessary deaths.

“I would advise anyone who sees tobacco being displayed illegally to contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06.”