Czech Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority in cooperation with the Customs Office in Liberec succeeded in revealing a consignment of tea originating in China which contained plants banned for foodstuffs.

The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) was launched 30 years ago. The system has undergone many modifications during this time; it was influenced by development of communication networks and by enlargement of the European Union as well. However, the principle remained the same. Countries which are involved in the system mutually exchange information related to dangerous food and feed present on the European market. When one of the network members detects a dangerous foodstuff on its territory and there is only a suspicion that it might have been distributed to another country, he must promptly notify that country through the system. An authority in charge of that country can then take immediate measures necessary for protection of the consumers‘ health.

Rocket is a plant from the eruca family which is consumed as a green vegetable. In last days the Czech media brought the information about the case from Germany where a poisonous plant senecio was revealed in one package of rocket. Both plants are very similar. In consequence to this information the concerns might arise among public that this product could be found on the Czech market. Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) would like to provide more detailed information.

Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) successfully concluded two last projects financed by means of the Transition Facility program. Both projects were realized in the first semester of 2009 and their costs were fully covered by the EU financial resources

A forty-tonne consignment of Chinese raisins aimed at the European market was transported over the Czech territory. Upon the warning from the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic the inspectors of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) controlled this consignment and found out that it was not possible to release it into circulation because the raisins were affected by moulds.

Some media already captured the information that European regulations concerning sale of fresh fruits and vegetables have been substantially amended. It was reported that rules limiting the shape and size of fruits and vegetables would disappear and curved cucumbers would finally return to the market. However, the rules change in many other regards; some of the changes will certainly be noticed by consumers themselves.

Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) in cooperation with its project partner State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic (SVFA SR) concluded project ‘Strengthening cooperation and development of nets among Czech and Slovak border regions in the domain of food control’ at the final conference in Brno today. With the conference the cross-border cooperation of regional inspectorates in Brno and Olomouc with the regional administration of SVFA SR in Žilina, Trenčín and Trnava, launched at the beginning of this year in Trenčianské Teplice, reached its climax.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority is monitoring the situation in the areas hit by floods, particularly in the Moravian-Silesian Region. Right in the field, the inspectors check the situation at flooded food business operators, both at producers and sellers. The aim is to help with elimination of flood consequences and to prevent from the distribution of the foodstuffs destroyed by water so that the health of the consumers is not threatened. The inspectors are also ready to provide the operators with recommendations concerning foodstuffs which have to be destroyed.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) carries out controls at foodstuff producers, in the trade network and in cooperation with the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic it also controls import of foodstuffs from the third countries, i. e. from the countries that are not Members of the European Union. Thanks to these controls it is possible to detain consignments of objectionable goods even before their further processing or selling to the final consumer.

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.