• 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

7. Conclusion

The year 2004 was exceptionally important for the Czech Republic and thus also for the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority. Although the CAFIA had already been preparing for changes relating to the accession to the European Union in previous period, year 2004 demanded exceptional diligence and effort both of the CAFIA and its employees. The „fine-tuning“ of all mechanisms necessary for smooth transition to the EU was the main priority of the CAFIA activities in the course of first four months. Since 1 May, ensuring relevant protection of European single market, mainly by effective inspection of foodstuffs of non-animal origin originating in third countries and by implementation of precautionary measures determined by the European Commission for selected problematic groups of foodstuffs, became the main task of CAFIA work.

By the day of accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union the CAFIA became a full and functional national contact point of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) for the Czech Republic.

The CAFIA competencies extended to some new areas: it began to inspect fresh cut flowers and irradiated foodstuffs. Based on the general agreement on co-operation with the SAIF, the CAFIA also inspected stocks of some commodities and quality of raw materials supplied for processing and of products which were manufactured from them. Wine and wine products were an important area of inspection.

The CAFIA continued with continuous targeted and planned inspections of foodstuffs throughout the whole chain of their circulation. This enabled to monitor selected commodities from the viewpoint of their safety and determined quality, correct labelling, and storage and other determined requirements. The adherence to microbiological requirements and requirements relating to contaminants in foodstuffs was continuously monitored. The CAFIA also inspected foodstuffs that were incorrectly labelled („adulterated“) and adherence to other obligatory requirements concerning the placing into circulation. Attention was also paid to protection of intellectual property rights in the area where it is set by the legislation.

In 2004, a total of 23076 individual inspections were carried out, out of which 12537 were undertaken in the retail network, 8802 in production, 1611 in warehouses and 126 elsewhere. In this period the CAFIA ascertained the total of 4310 non-complying samples of foodstuffs and other products out of which 2971 were of domestic origin and 1339 were imported.

In 2004, the activities continued successfully also in the international sphere. The CAFIA experts participated in legislative activities at the European level. 22 experts were appointed to European working groups and committees by the end of 2004.

In 2004, two FVO missions relating to the CAFIA activities were carried out. According to their conclusions the Czech Republic has a well defined structure of competent authorities responsible for import controls of foodstuffs of plant origin from third countries, clear import procedures and good communication pathways.

The work on the Phare project “Strengthening Food Safety Policy” continued; the project was initiated in April 2003 and it will be finished in 2005. The CAFIA employees participated in another international projects, trainings and study visits and took part in series of conferences and workshops.

In the course of the year 2004 the CAFIA intensified its activity in the area of communication with the public. In connection with accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union the CAFIA updated its website and continued to co-operate with consumers´ organizations. The CAFIA further developed internal communication within the authority and began to issue internal electronic monthly bulletin for employees.