Online retailer Amazon has been fined £65,000 ($85,000) for breaching dangerous goods regulations in the UK.
Amazon was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court for four counts ‘of causing dangerous goods to be delivered for carriage in an aircraft’ under the Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 2002. In addition to the £65,000 fine, Amazon was also ordered to pay the Civil Aviation Authority’s costs of £60,000.
The four offences took place between January 2014 and June 2015 with shipments including lithium ion batteries and flammable aerosols. The items were found and detained by Royal Mail and UPS screening staff ahead of intended departure.
The Civil Aviation Authority’s general counsel, Kate Staples says: “Around the world, retailers and online traders must comply with international restrictions, which prohibit the shipping of dangerous goods on passenger aircraft, which pose a flight safety risk.”
She adds: “The safety of aviation and the public is paramount and we will continue to work closely with retailers and online traders to ensure they understand the regulations and have robust processes in place so their items can be shipped safely.”
