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On 23^rd January 2019, an initial conference opening the project of cross-border co-operation was held in Hradec Králové. The project is implemented by the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) jointly with the Polish supervisory authority: Inspection Authority of Agricultural and Food Products (Inspekcja Jakości Handlowej Artykułów Rolno - Spożywczych). CAFIA Inspectorates in Ústí nad Labem, Hradec Králové and Olomouc are involved on behalf of the Czech Republic whereas Poland is represented by regional inspectorates in Wroclaw, Katowice and Opole.

The aim of the project is strengthening of co-operation and making personal contacts with inspectors in cross-border regions of the Czech Republic and Poland in the field of official inspection of foodstuffs. Exchange visits of inspectors of both authorities will be the main constituents of the project.

More than 30 CAFIA inspectors and similar number of representatives of Polish supervisory body will participate in the project. In particular inspectors are the target group. Each exchange visit will include a visit of the regional workplace where activities of the given authority related to inspection of foodstuffs will be introduced, current issues will be discussed and these will be followed by visits at food business operators. These joint inspections are an important part of the whole project as direct experience and co-operation on practical level always provides the most valuable information and enables bringing a new perspective on the working methods carried out by supervisory bodies. Visits at the food business operators will be implemented in the scope of competences of both supervisory bodies, for example bakeries, producers of confectionary products, pasta, alcoholic beverages, breweries, etc. will be visited.

The top representatives of both partners came up to the conclusion that building a common basis for co-operation in the field of food safety in cross-border region is one of their priorities. The Minister of Agriculture of the CR, Miroslav Toman emphasized that: ”The principle aim of the project of cross-border co-operation is to make the consumers’ protection more perfect and more effective as regards not only food quality but also safety in both countries. I believe that exchange visits of inspectors will lead to mutual sharing of the best of the control praxis of both supervisory bodies, will make the future communication as smooth as possible and will minimize the amount of deficient foodstuffs that were unfortunately present on our market in the past.”

The project will last approximately 6 months. It will be concluded by final conference where the results will be summarized. The overall budget of the project amounts to c. 50 thousand EUR, out of which 85% will be reimbursed from European Regional Development Fund.

This is already fifth project of cross-border co-operation implemented by the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority. At the turn of 2005 a 2006 similar exchange visits were implemented in co-operation with Austria, in 2009 with Slovakia, in 2011 with Free State of Saxony, and finally in 2013 with Free State of Bavaria. Operation programmes of cross-border co-operation enable CAFIA to get familiarized with practical functioning of supervisory authorities with the same or similar competences in neighbouring countries and make relations which could be used in the future.

Article by: Pavel Kopřiva, CAFIA Spokesperson, + 420 542 426 633

23^rd  January 2018