CAFIA received 1 484 complaints and suggestions in 1999 from customers and other entities (mass media, state administration bodies, etc.). Their number is continuously rising and they influence to great extent objectives of inspection.

The subject matters of complaints and suggestions are most often the expired date of use or minimum durability, inadequate quality, hygienic non-conformances in stores and false labelling of foodstuffs.

Serious infringements of legal regulations are sometimes disclosed on the basis of some complaints and suggestions.

For example, an inspection carried out on the basis of a complaint disclosed that a producer of gingerbread in a period before Christmas produced gingerbread houses, in which several pieces of gingerbread are joined together, but he used classical tailor's pins to improve the joint. Moreover, the product was not labelled at all. CAFIA imposed a ban on the sale on gingerbread houses and the producer was ordered to withdraw immediately from circulation all non-conforming products. Currently, further inspections have been in progress at the producer's business premises. The results obtained will serve as instigation to start administrative proceedings.

Information for consumers on how to proceed when submitting complaints as well as numerous other instructions are available at the CAFIA web sites ( www.czpi.cz).