The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority and the Customs Authorities of the CR have been cooperating during official controls of imported foodstuffs of plant origin for many years; the first mutual agreement was signed already in 1998. The Agreement on Cooperation exactly defines the risk commodities which the inspection is focused on, it further lays down rules for exchange of information and the process of inspection in case when a consignment containing suspicious foodstuffs enters the European market through the Czech Republic. The Authorities also cooperate during inspections of food exports or during imports and exports of raw materials produced from genetically modified organisms.

The new form of the Agreement responds to the amendments of the European legislation related to the issue of import controls and also specifies procedures of inspections followed from enlargement of the CAFIA responsibilities which arised from the recent amendement of the Act on the CAFIA. That is to say that within this amendment, CAFIA obtained responsibility to perform inspections of foodstuffs even before they are released into free circulation, which was not possible before.

“Drafting the new Agreement on Cooperation was necessary from the reason of incorporation of new legislation provisions and it is also an opportunity how to improve the present and running cooperation, update the lists of inspected commodities and specify rules for mutual communication. More effective protection of consumers against imports of dangerous foodstuffs from third countries will be the result“, Martin Klanica, who is now entrusted with the power to govern the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority, said today on the ceremonial occasion of signtaure of the Agreement at the General Directorate of the Customs.

Effectiveness of cooperation between the CAFIA and the Customs Authorities could be also demonstrated by recent successful inspection activities. This year 20 tons of peanuts originating from China and 9 tons of almonds originating from the USA had been detained on the borders already before they were released into free circulation, both from the reason of detection aflatoxins exceeding the limits. Yesterday CAFIA also reported on detaining a consignment containing dangerous jelly confectionery.