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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority was finally granted the funds of the European Union assigned to finance the Phare project, one of the projects of the National Program Phare 2002 for the Czech Republic. A Financial Memorandum was signed between the Czech Republic and EU member countries on Monday 24 May, in which the European Commission undertakes to finance the approved projects.

The CAFIA project of "Strengthening Food Safety Policy", in the value of EUR 2.6 mil, will focus, first of all, on the development of a complex information system related to food safety in the Czech Republic. Other inspection authorities will also be incorporated in this system: State Veterinary Administration, State Phytosanitary Service, Central Inspection and Testing Agricultural Institute, Customs Office and public health authorities (sanitary service).

The financial funds from the Union will be used to develop a complex system interconnecting the individual information systems of inspection authorities so that they might transfer information. The system will especially facilitate collection and prompt transfer of data relating to harmful food. If the individual inspection authorities receive such information immediately, they will also be able to respond promptly and take all actions in order to withdraw the food from circulation. At the same time, it will be possible to inform effectively the consumers. This will help develop a national system of rapid data exchange, from which - through CAFIA - data about food risky to human health will be transferred to the European Rapid Alert System. This system connects inspection bodies in the entire European Union and operates on the basis of a mutual transfer of information relating to harmful food detected in the European market.

Part of the Phare project will include the CAFIA twining support, which is transfer of professional and administrative experience and knowledge by the European experts. The project should result in the improvement of some CAFIA activities. The Phare project also includes the development of the Quality System within CAFIA in accordance with ISO standards.

The project will probably be initiated at the beginning of next year and should be completed in the middle of 2004.