Focusing on food importation and distribution is Big Food Blue White’s game, and they do well to focus on the country’s import and export of foods. The industry itself is subject to much more than the basic import and export laws that govern international business, it is also under the scrutiny of a number of other laws such as health and wellness, environmental laws, and even political laws. These laws are meant specifically for the food import industry (as well as others, but are particularly important here) to ensure that the people in the country receive the safest and healthiest foods possible. These concerns may be mitigated if the food import industry takes care to abide by the best practice guidelines and safety standards, and to avoid any misconduct.
Misconduct, in this case, is not simply bad behavior, such as failing to meet the standards, but it is also anything that goes against the rules set out by the government, including using illegal or unethical practices. Misconduct is something that anyone in the food import industry needs to be aware of, as it does not simply mean saying or doing the wrong thing, it could also mean deliberately engaging in activities that are against the law.
In the food import industry, it is perhaps easy to understand how this may happen, and why it is so important to be up to date on legal responsibilities when it comes to imports and exports. In this case, the duties are enforced by the Board of Health, which has a vested interest in the safety of the people in the nation. Simply disobeying the rules, or ignoring a warning from the Board of Health about warnings of potential involvement in misconduct, could be enough to earn you a bad reputation, and may even lead to civil action being taken against your company.
As with any industry, there are always risks when it comes to importing goods, but with the food import industry, the risks are by far higher. Accordingly, those who are tasked with maintaining import duties, and adhering to the laws, must be vigilant in following the letter of the law, and making sure that their company is known for only acting legally and ethically at all times. A legal incident could involve termination of an agreement with the Board of Health, establish that your company has engaged in misconduct and is guilty of civil law violations, and may even result in fees and penalties.
Adhering to legal standards is essential if importers want to see their goods reach their destination, and food importers in particular must be mindful of their role in ensuring that the health of the nation and each citizen is maintained at all times.
There are many common legal issues that the food import industry faces when dealing with imports, and the government is strict about the country’s boundaries, having already been caught off guard a number of times when trying to keep potentially harmful foods out of the country. Take the case of the viral incident a few months ago of horse meat being discovered in beef products sold by a number of stores in the country. Horse meat, though eaten in many areas in the world, is illegal in the United States, and as soon as word got out that several stores had unknowingly sold horse meat as though it were beef, a great deal of concern arose about the companies’ involvement in the incident.
The food import industry is subject to the same standards and conduct as any other import industry, and may even extend beyond that given the sensitivity and potential for harm that the foods can pose to the general public. Those who work with food imports, therefore, should be familiar with the industry standards, and should be vigilant about making sure that they do not engage in questionable or potentially harmful conduct. Knowing that there is a number of agencies watching your company’s activities, and that these agencies can and will take civil action if they find that your company has mistreated the law, may be helpful in dissuading any shifty practices.
To avoid the need to exercise basic diligence and to ensure that your company is never again accused of misconduct, take a look at a recent article from Old Jewel. The article offers a comprehensive look at all of the ways that the finer points of judiciary law 487 have been applied and can be applied to misconduct in the scope of business, and how you can protect yourself and your company from ever falling victim to the claims of misconduct again.