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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority took about 1,134 samples of food last year in order to carry out monitoring of contaminants. Only in 14 samples (i.e. 1,23 %) CAFIA identified higher values than the admissible MRL, which represents approximately the same number as in the previous year. The MRL exceeding values were identified only in foodstuffs of plant origin last year.

CAFIA has been monitoring in the long-term pesticide residua especially in fruit, vegetables, dry shell fruits and cocoa, as well as the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides in milk and dairy products. The results of inspections show a steady decrease in the contents of such substances in foodstuffs. For example, CAFIA recorded a 15-times decrease in the DDT contents in butter in the period between 1992 and 2001.

The results of analyses of chemical substances exceeding the hygienic limits are in their majority isolated and their number is in no way different from the previous years. In 2001 CAFIA detected, within the scope of monitoring, only the MRL exceeding values of arsenic in rice and cadmium in poppy seeds. The results of analyses of preserved fruit also showed unimportant contents of tin that gets probably released into the contents from a tin can.

Mycotoxins, originating as products of some moulds, have been monitored by CAFIA since 1993. CAFIA recorded only one case of MRL exceeding result detected in a sample of baby food.

The polyaromatic hydrocarbons are monitored in bred, flour, rice, oils and wine. CAFIA identified some non-conforming samples in vegetable oils last year.

The monitoring programs include also bisphenols and their derivates, which are substances released into foodstuffs from varnishes used to coat the inner walls of tin cans. The hygienic limits for these substances have not yet been determined legislatively. Small amounts of bisphenols in some foodstuffs were though detected.

Just the same applies to the contents of dioxins; there are no limits determined yet. CAFIA monitors their levels in food in the form of screening, mainly in vegetable oils and some foodstuffs of plant origin. In such cases when no binding limits have been determined, the foodstuffs, containing the specified substances, are released into circulation only with approval and under conditions set by the Ministry of Health.

CAFIA has been systematically monitoring the contents of contaminants since 1995, though some contaminants have been monitored already since 1989. The findings of MRL exceeding contents of contaminants were entirely comparable with adjacent countries in several past years.

The MRL exceeding findings: pesticide residua - 5 samples (4-apples, 1-pistachios), chemical substances - 3 samples (2-arsenic-rice, 1-cadmium-poppy seeds), mycotoxins - 1 samples (fruit baby food), polyaromatic hydrocarbons-5 samples (1-sunflower oil from Germany, 2-olive oil from Italy, 2-olive oil from Spain