• Entrepreneurs
• Business information
• Certification
• CAFIA laboratories
• CAFIA opinions
• More information
• Consumers
• How to know the food market
• Results of CAFIA inspections
• Consumer rights
• List of risky sites
• Hoaxes
• Other visitors
• Press Releases
• Internships at CAFIA
• Public contracts

The CAFIA inspectors took altogether 31 samples of the spices both on the retail market and in producers all around the country in the course of this April. The microbial analyses were then performed in the samples and the quality of spices was examined, too.

Of all the 31 samples taken, the total of 11 samples did not comply with the requirements arising form the applicable decrees: this represents 7 samples of red pepper out of the total of 16 samples taken, and 4 samples of black pepper out of the total of 15 samples taken. In most cases the quality of samples was not satisfying, yet in 4 cases the samples exceeded the tolerated values of microorganisms. Nevertheless, none of the samples was assessed as risky to human health.

CAFIA decided that the controlled persons and entities should take such actions that would help prevent repeated occurrence of the non-conformances. Administrative Actions on imposing penalties will be initiated with them.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority pays big attention to the continuous inspections of spices, as it is a commodity with a relatively high number of non-conforming samples identified due to the high values of microbial organisms. For example, some 25.5 per cent samples of spices did not comply with the microbial requirements in 2000 and in a few cases Salmonella was detected. CAFIA will in future continue to perform controls of spices.