The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) was launched 30 years ago. The system has undergone many modifications during this time; it was influenced by development of communication networks and by enlargement of the European Union as well. However, the principle remained the same. Countries which are involved in the system mutually exchange information related to dangerous food and feed present on the European market. When one of the network members detects a dangerous foodstuff on its territory and there is only a suspicion that it might have been distributed to another country, he must promptly notify that country through the system. An authority in charge of that country can then take immediate measures necessary for protection of the consumers‘ health.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority is the Czech National Contact Point for the RASFF. Employees of the National Contact Point receive warning notifications from other member countries and in reverse, they sent notifications of findings detected on the Czech market. The National Contact Point is operated 24 hours a day including weekends and national holidays. At the same time, CAFIA itself contributes to the system as well.

In 2008, 118 notifications related to the CR of which 64% were handled right by CAFIA. Notifications concerned for example pesticides exceeding the limits in fruit and vegetables, confectionary products with allergens which were not given on the labelling or dried shelled products containing aflatoxins. In cooperation with the General Directorate of the Customs, CAFIA had also detained four consignments with dangerous foodstuffs before they were released into the European market, such as peanuts containing higher levels of aflatoxins or jelly sweets from Vietnam posing a threat of choking.

This year CAFIA already solved 52 received notifications, in reverse, own CAFIA’s detections during inspection became a ground for 21 forwarded notifications. This way, CAFIA warned for example against food supplements containing substances intended only for authorised medicaments or against dangerous chewing gums that were supposed to enhance erection. Besides, 5 consignments with dangerous foodstuffs, such as almonds and peanuts with aflatoxins or mouldy raisins were detained on the borders.

In the previous year 3099 original notifications were circulated through the RASFF. The cases of pork meat from Ireland contaminated by dioxins or foodstuffs with melamine originating in China were promoted in the media in the whole European context most of all. In the case of melamine, the RASFF members were connected even to the information network of the World Health Organisation (INFOSAN) and they were thus informed not only of detections in Europe but also in the whole world.