Poultry company Moy Park has been fined a total of £4,000 for failing to comply with conditions of its pollution prevention and control permit at its facility at Larne Road, Ballymena.
The company pleaded guilty to the charges at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Wednesday, July 23).
The court heard that between July 1, 2024 and July 11, 2024, officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) inspected the Co. Antrim site and observed multiple breaches of the permit contrary to Regulation 36(1)(b) of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013.
The court was told that the offences included:
- Failure to handle and store animal by products within suitably leak-proof covered receptacles;
- Failure to maintain all plant and equipment in good operating condition;
- Failure to store all Category 3 materials in enclosed bins;
- Failure to notify the chief inspector without delay of any fugitive emissions which had caused, was causing or may have caused significant pollution.
The court directed that Moy Park must pay the order in full within three months of the hearing date.
In a statement issued by Moy Park, the company said that “the proceedings related to historic issues over a short period in the run up to the busy July bank holiday in Northern Ireland last year”.
“All issues were rectified to the satisfaction of the regulator shortly after the incident dates.
“In addition, the site has benefited from a continuing programme of site investment and production improvement works to eliminate the risk of reoccurrence.
“As confirmed by the court, no actual pollution occurred,” the company added.
Moy Park
In October, Moy Park reported revenue of £2.03 billion for 2023, up 10.7% on the previous year (£1.83 billion).
Moy Park, which is Northern Ireland’s largest private sector business and one of Europe’s leading poultry producers, also said that operating profits rose by 151% to £75.3 million (2022: £30 million).
The company, which was acquired by US-based Pilgrim’s Pride Group in 2017, said profit after tax in 2023 was recorded at £55.8 million, up from £19.8 million a year previously.
“Unrelenting focus on cost control, excellent customer relationships and a culture of constant innovation in an ever changing competitive landscape mitigated some of these challenges,” the company said.
