The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority continues in increasing efficiency of its control activities. This results in gradual reduction of administration connected with supervision, increasing the effectivity of the information system where all data is entered, as well as permanent accent on training of inspectors. Activities carried out in 2008 reflect such effort – 73 837 inspections focused on specific issues were performed, of which 10 235 were carried out at producers and 63 522 at shops. In comparison to the year 2007, the number of controls increased significantly. Besides, the Inspection Authority introduced a new category of official control, namely audit, within which inspectors carry out a complex control of the system of ensuring food safety at given food business operators. This is in accord with requirements of European legislation. CAFIA also successfully defended the certificate ISO 9001:2000.   

In 2008 inspectors placed more than 16 thousand bans on releasing into circulation which concerned foodstuffs and tobacco products amounting almost to 46 million CZK. The greatest financial amount of bans related to spirit and products thereof (more than 19 million CZK) which was caused by a complicated case when limit-exceeding methanol content in products of company LIHO Blanice was detected. Measures related to foodstuffs for specific nutrition and food supplements should also be mentioned; in connection with this commodity, goods amounting to more than 11 million CZK were banned. The Inspection Authority imposed fines amounting approximately to 40 million CZK within administrative proceedings concluded in 2008.

In total, 5 878 samples of foodstuffs which did not comply with requirements of food legislation were revealed. The highest number of non-complying samples related to fresh fruit and vegetables, wine, meat and meat products, chocolate and confectionery products, milk products but also dehydrated products and flavourings. The majority of cases concerned labelling and sensory quality requirements. The melamine case was the most known event of potentially dangerous foodstuffs. However, that was successfully managed, in particular thanks to the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. To this date, the Inspection Authority took more than 40 samples of risk foodstuffs, however, content of melamine exceeding limits was not revealed.

Likewise in previous years, also in 2007 the Inspection Authority dealt with suggestions of consumers. The inspectors worked out 2 149 suggestions submitted directly by consumers, further 734 suggestions were handed to other supervisory bodies and institutions.

However, assessment of quality and safety of foodstuffs on the Czech market cannot be based on results of CAFIA inspections, as they are focused particularly on dangerous places of production and sale, which leads to significant number of bans.