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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) objects to inaccurate information recently presented by the Consumer Defence Association (CDA), according to which Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed – RASFF does not properly inform the Czech public.

The CDA gives the “cases” of cashew nuts and apple juice as examples. In this connection it is important to note that notifications sent by the European Commission through the RASFF are not automatically designed to be made public. Their publication is always preceded by risk assessment for consumers. Neither of these cases posed a serious risk to consumer health. With respect to misleading information presented to the public, the Inspection Authority discloses the circumstances of both cases.

Notification regarding cashew nuts was sent to the RASFF due to precautionary reasons, with respect to their origin from India, as required by the EC. The notification was therefore sent even though only a few kilograms of nuts were unsuitable and sensory defects and mechanical damage were found only in 3% of kernels. That is why the EC classified this notification in the Information category, which means that consumers were not jeopardized.

Notification regarding soft drink Toma, Apple 100%, was sent through the RASFF because it was a consignment for the Polish market, thus for another Member State. In such cases, notification is mandatory. In the Czech Republic, this beverage was intended solely for direct consumption in catering establishments that are checked by the public health protection bodies which investigated this case. According to CAFIA’s information, it was found that only a few boxes of this beverage were possibly unsuitable for human consumption.

Since it appears that the CDA does not have necessary information regarding the operation of the National Contact Point for the RASFF in the CR, CAFIA Director General Jakub Sebesta today sent a personal letter to CDA representatives. In this letter, he invites them to visit the CAFIA where they will be acquainted with the operation of this system. The NCP staff is also ready to answer their questions.