Two dairy executives in France have been ordered to repay EUR23m (US$34.2m) in EU subsidies after adulterating pure butter.
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Jean-Pierre Boisgontier and Guy Fléchard, of dairy company Fléchard de la Chapelle d’Andaine, were also respectively sentenced to suspended prison sentences of eight and five months respectively. The two men were also hit with fines of EUR20,000 and EUR37,500. Both men could appeal.
Créteil magistrates court heard the butter was adulterated with vegetable matter and meat tallow.
EU anti-fraud office OLAF helped secure the convictions, which were linked to a conspiracy in France, Italy, Germany and Belgium, where adulterated butter was bought from Italian organised criminals.
“This is a great success for OLAF,” said EU anti-fraud commissioner Siim Kallas.
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