The combine harvester. Photo / Supplied
A Christchurch customs broking firm has been convicted for submitting a false customs declaration that had the potential to create a serious biosecurity breach.
Gateway Cargo Systems (SI) Limited pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court last week to one charge of falsely declaring that the header unit of a
combine harvester imported from the United Kingdom was new when in fact it had been used.
The firm was fined $3000.
The offending was detected in December last year after the combine harvester was inspected by a Ministry for Primary Industries quarantine officer.
MPI spokesman, Steve Ham, said the company correctly stated that the combine harvester was used but declared the header unit as new.