• 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

2.5. Information and communication system

The information and communication system of the CAFIA represents an important source of information to support the management in their managerial, decision-making and planning processes and to increase the flexibility of inspectors working in the field. The information system of the CAFIA (CAFIA IS) includes several sub-systems (e.g. human resources information system, economic information system, specialized information system, information system for Inspections and Laboratory Activities, intranet, website, electronic attendance system, specialized information system “Wine”, etc.). The CAFIA IS is run in 8 local networks on more than 500 computers, laptops, and servers. Local networks are interconnected by means of common virtual private network (VPN) which mobile users can access through special access point name (APN intranet).

The year 2004 was a fundamental turning point for two basic subsystems: specialized IS “Wine” and economic IS. The new economic system is run on the intranet platform and enables direct data link between the central server and individual inspectorates. This allows CAFIA to be more flexible and better informed about issues concerning economy and accountancy. The Wine IS was developed on the basis of requirements of Act No. 321/2004 Coll., on viticulture and viniculture. The system registers, for example, grape verification, work of the committee for wine classification, issued decision on wine classification, forwarded information about decisions to the Vineyard Register, to the “Inspection and Laboratory Activities” IS, and to the website of the Ministry of Agriculture. In this respect, a close co-operation with the CISTA, which is the administrator of the Vineyard Register, was established.

The specialized subsystem of the CAFIA “Inspections and Laboratory Activities” was supplemented in 2004 with the possibility enabling the inspectors in the field to obtain data offline and to forward them subsequently to the central server, which is necessary in regions with insufficient intensity of the signal of the mobile network. Another significant change within the “Inspection and Laboratory Activities” subsystem in 2004 was a development of the programme module “Imports from third countries” in connection with legislative changes after the accession of the CR to the European Communities. The EC legislation imposes on the Member States the obligation to carry out systematic or random official checks of certain food and feed imported from third countries at points of entry, before they are released into free circulation. The new module follows the whole process from registering the notification on suspension of the proceeding on releasing the product into free circulation by the customs service, through registering the control proceeding, up to the binding opinion issued by the CAFIA.

The human resources information system, so far used only by the Headquarters, was made accessible to users at regional inspectorates in 2004.

The CAFIA began to contribute with its data on inspections performed, which concerned the infringement of intellectual rights, to the information system of the Industrial Property Office (IPO).

In 2004, the work on the Phare project “Strengthening Food Safety Policy”, initiated in 2003, continued. One of the project´s objectives is to develop common information system of supervisory bodies (CISTA, SVA, SPA, CAFIA), GCD and the Ministry of Health of the CR; the CAFIA will ensure functioning of the system. Hardware necessary for operating the system was delivered and installed and works on the development of virtual private network among the above authorities and on creation of CAFIA own application were commenced.

In 2004, the perfection and renovation of the technical base of the CAFIA information and communication system continued (purchases of laptop computers, portable and stationary printing and copying appliances, PCs, LCD panels, servers, mobile telephones, etc.). The conception of mobile office for inspectors is thus being accomplished. In practice it means: a laptop computer, portable printer, and mobile telephone with data transmission.