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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) has been responsible for inspecting open-type public catering establishments, such as restaurants, fast food outlets, pubs, wine bars, confectioneries, etc., since 2015. As of January 1, 2025, the competencies have been clarified, and supervision over food law in open-type catering establishments has been unified under the Ministry of Agriculture. CAFIA inspectors are now authorised to oversee all open-type public catering establishments.

CAFIA inspections comprehensively cover all aspects of food law, including hygienic and microbiological requirements and food safety, but also focus on quality control, food and dish adulteration, cases of consumer deception, and overall fairness in sales.

CAFIA inspectors find legal violations in approximately one out of every four catering establishments. The most problematic area remains compliance with hygienic requirements set by Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, with violations found in one out of every three inspections focused on hygiene.

In 2015, inspections in restaurants revealed that a significant number of food business operators were unaware of even the most basic obligations, and inspectors were forced to temporarily close 144 public catering facilities on-site due to unacceptable hygienic conditions, representing 65.2% of all establishments closed by CAFIA. In 2024, this number dropped to 66 public catering facilities, and the closed establishments accounted for 42.6% of all food business establishments closed by CAFIA inspectors.

The long-term trend indicates a gradual decrease in the most severe violations leading to temporary closures. However, the current situation with some operators cannot in any way be considered acceptable, and CAFIA inspectors will continue to address this issue with undiminished intensity.

Since the beginning, CAFIA has transparently published, along with other serious findings, a list of establishments closed for significant violations of hygiene regulations on the "Food Pillory" portal in the section Closed Establishments.

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

18^th February 2025