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2. Results of CAFIA activities

2.1. Inspections

2.1.1. Priorities of inspections in 2004

The work of the CAFIA is based on competencies laid down by applicable legislation. Within the assigned competencies the CAFIA inspects foodstuffs, raw materials for production of foodstuffs, detergents, soap products and tobacco products. The above competencies apply to the production, storage, transport and sale (including import). The basic concept outline for inspections carried out during the year comprises of centrally-managed inspections and plans of individual inspectorates. In addition to this, it is necessary to include inspections performed on the basis of specific suggestions for inspections.

A constant priority of inspection is the safety of foodstuffs, i.e. their harmlessness to health and their quality with regard to disclosing adulteration. Similarly, adequate attention is paid to other binding provisions of the legislation, such as hygiene and labelling requirements, requirements for keeping records, storage and marketing requirements.

One of the main CAFIA´s tasks after the accession of the Czech Republic to the EU on 1 May 2004 is to ensure adequate protection of the European single market, to carry out effective inspection of foodstuffs of non-animal origin imported from third countries, and to take necessary precautionary measures for problematic foodstuffs (pistachios, peanuts, hazelnuts and other commodities). Owing to thorough preparation in previous years, the CR was fully connected to the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, RASFF, by the day of accession to the EU.

In 2004, the CAFIA begun to inspect fresh cut flowers and foodstuffs treated with ionizing radiation. Inspections according to the “General Agreement on Co-operation” concluded between the CAFIA and the SAIF (quality inspections of raw materials supplied for processing and consequent inspection of processed products manufactured from these raw materials) and checks of stocks of some food commodities were also carried out. The area of wine and wine products constitutes an important sphere of inspections. The systematic inspection comprised evaluation and classification of wines, including sampling and complete administration of the whole process.

The inspection is carried out in substantial extent as so called targeted inspection, i.e. inspection directed there, where deficiencies are less or more likely to be expected. Other inspections included monitoring, continuous monitoring or precautionary inspections. These ensure continuity of inspections in other areas that appear to be non-problematical or about which it is necessary to obtain information and to ensure that regular inspections are carried out there.

For this reason, data provided in this report do not and cannot indicate the general level of the quality of foodstuffs offered to the consumer on the market, or indicate the general level of conditions in the production and in distribution. They only give brief information about current approaches of CAFIA, as a control body, to the inspection of foodstuffs and about trends in the area of inspection.

2.1.2. Summary of inspection results

In 2004, the CAFIA inspectors performed the total of 23076 individual inspections. From this number, 12537 inspections were carried out in retail, 8802 in production, 1611 in warehouses, and 126 at other facilities. The total of 4310 non-complying samples of foodstuffs and other products were identified in the monitored period. Out of this number 2971 samples were of domestic origin and 1339 samples were imported.

As regards the place of inspection, non-complying samples were identified in the following facilities: 3095 in retail, 974 in production, 208 in wholesale, and 33 at other facilities. As regards the type of analysis, the following numbers of non-complying samples of foodstuffs and other products were identified:

- inspection of microbiological requirements     917
- inspection of contaminants          195
- inspection of labelling          1548
- inspection of quality analytical requirements     676
- inspection of quality sensory requirements   1486

The results indicate that some samples failed more analyses at the same time. As to individual commodities the highest numbers of unsatisfactory samples were found in fresh vegetables (649), fresh fruit (469), confectionery products – dough (455), meat – meat products (386), wine (354) and delicatessen products (321).

The relatively high numbers of non-complying samples within these commodities as compared to other commodities are caused by the fact that for various reasons they were checked more often than other commodities, and cannot be therefore taken as a prove of generally higher share of non-complying samples (i.e. “worse” inspection results) in comparison with other commodities.