A trader caught out two times before by Manchester City Trading Standards has once again found themselves in the dock.
On October 19, 2021, officers carried out a routine inspection of Vavachi Limited, in Sherbourne Street, Cheetham Hill.
During this visit hundreds of items were seized, including earrings, belly bars and other items of jewellery, with samples sent off for testing.
Under UK law, all items of jewellery sold must adhere to safety guidelines regarding the metals used to make them. Some metals, in high quantities, can result in serious illness due to gradual contact with the skin over time.
Of the items seized, sets of star-shaped earrings contained levels of Cadmium more than 4,500 times the safe legal limit. Star earrings contained levels of Cadmium 4,300 times over the legal limit.
Cadmium is a metal which is recognised as a toxin as well as a carcinogen, and has been linked to cancer, if a person is exposed to enough over time.
Other items such as the belly bars and smaller studs were found to have excess levels of Nickel, which can cause allergic reactions in higher quantities.
Vavachi Limited and its now former director Amindin Ataie, 48, of Grundy Avenue, Manchester, were interviewed by the Council through post, with Ataie claiming he did not import the items himself, rather they came included as part of the sale of the business from the previous owner. He also claimed he was not aware of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Enforcement Regulations 2008.
At a hearing held on Thursday, November 2, 2023, Ataie and the company pleaded guilty to four breaches of REACH regulations.
Ataie was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also sentenced to a one year community order during which he would have to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, and complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95 and costs of £1,831.50.
It was ordered that the company pay a fine of £800 per offence, resulting in a total penalty of £3,200. The company was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £1,831.50.
A forfeiture order was also made against the seized goods.
