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2.3. Certification

Certification of fresh fruit and vegetables

The CAFIA certifies fresh fruit and vegetables at imports and exports from third countries according to Article 5 and 6 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1148/2001 on checks on conformity to the marketing standards applicable to fresh fruit and vegetables.

As to imports, the certification included mainly seasonal summer vegetables: vegetable peppers, salad cucumbers and water melons from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine, furthermore, table grapes from Turkey and kiwi from New Zealand (since 1 October 2004 New Zealand is entitled to carry out the checks as a third country at import into the Community). Citrus fruits, such as oranges and tangerines were imported into the CR from Argentina, Turkey and from the Republic of South Africa. An increased import of vegetable peppers for processing was noted in autumn. Since 1 May 2004 the majority of consignments were checked for their quality and certified.

From 1 May 2004 the CAFIA inspectorates received 1192 communications on the suspension of customs proceedings for consignments of fresh fruit and vegetables in the quantity amounting to 16,752,036 kg (including communications on imports of fresh fruit and vegetables intended to be processed in the Czech Republic).

Certificates for wine export

In 1992, the European Commission Committee for Wine authorised the CAFIA to issue certificates for wine exports. In 2004, the CAFIA issued 87 VI1certificates for wine exports. As of 1 May 2004 only export to third countries is construed as export, not wine intended for EU market. The certificates were thus issued only to 4 applicants in different countries.

Other certification

The CAFIA ensured certification of foodstuffs and raw materials for their production in non-regulated sphere, i.e. based on the producers´ requests. The certificates were issued mainly for the purpose of export; therefore, the scope of tests was usually specified in compliance with the requirements of a foreign customer. Within optional product certification, a total of 60 certificates were issued in 2004.