Pacific Gateway Holding Inc - conviction information for 2021-03-03
| Corporation name: | Pacific Gateway Holding Inc |
|---|---|
| Address: | 1005 - 2633 Simpson Rd |
| City: | Richmond |
| Province/territory: | British Columbia |
| Postal code: | V6X 4G9 |
| Country: | Canada |
| Sector or industry: | 413 - Food, beverage and tobacco merchant wholesalers |
| Location of offense: | Vancouver, British Columbia |
|---|---|
| Case summary: |
Between 17 October 2017 and 23 May 2018, Wildlife Enforcement Officers with Environment and Climate Change Canada conducted inspections of seven (7) shipping containers imported from China into Vancouver, British Columbia, by Pacific Gateway Holding Inc., based in Richmond, BC. Each container held approximately 21 tonnes of eel products.
Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the importation of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) into Canada requires a valid permit. During the inspections, officers collected multiple fillet samples from each shipment for species identification. Laboratory analysis confirmed that five of the containers contained European eel fillets intermixed with American eel fillets. No CITES permits were presented or associated with any of the shipments. As a result, Pacific Gateway Holding Inc was formally charged with contravening the provisions of the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA). |
| Charges: |
Count 1
On or about October 17th, 2017, Pacific Gateway Holding Inc., at or near the City of Vancouver, Province of British Columbia, did import into Canada a part or derivative of an animal, to wit: Anguilla anguilla, also known as “European eel”, otherwise than under the authority of and in accordance with a permit issued pursuant to section 10(1) of the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, in violation of section 6(2) of this Act, and did thereby commit an offence contrary to section 22(1)(a) of the Act.
Count 2
On or about January 31st, 2018, Pacific Gateway Holding Inc., at or near the City of Vancouver, Province of British Columbia, did import into Canada a part or derivative of an animal, to wit: Anguilla anguilla, also known as “European eel”, otherwise than under the authority of and in accordance with a permit issued pursuant to section 10(1) of the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, in violation of section 6(2) of this Act, and did thereby commit an offence contrary to section 22(1)(a) of the Act. |
| Enforcement notification: | British Columbia-based import company ordered to pay $163,776 fine for illegally importing European eel meat |
| Result: | Guilty Plea |
|---|---|
| Date of conviction: | 2021-03-03 |
| Court level: | Provincial and Territorial Court |
| Nature of offense(s): |
|
| Additional details about the nature of the offense: |
| Act | Regulations | Section(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act | 6(2), 22(1)(a) |
| Date of sentencing: |
2021-03-03 |
|---|---|
| Location of sentencing: | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Sentence(s): |
|
| Amount of fine(s): | $163,776 |
| Sentencing details: |
On 3 March 2021, before the Provincial Court of British Columbia sitting in Vancouver, the corporation Pacific Gateway Holding Inc. pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 2 of illegally importing European eels, in contravention of the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act. The Court ordered a stay of proceedings on Counts 3 through 10. An aggregate fine of $163,776 was imposed in respect of Counts 1 and 2, and the corporation was ordered to notify its shareholders of the reasons underlying the sentence.
|