At the beginning of the last week, authorized personnel of CAFIA Prague carried out extensive inspections of food vendors at the SAPARIA market, Prague Disctrict IV, during which they banned the circulation of food in quantities exceeding 3500 kg.

On the basis of an inspection carried out at company Kaufland Czech Republic v.o.s, inspectors of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) ordered to withdraw from the circulation product Plum jam one-component with low sugar content (best before date 21. 12. 2011, product weight 240 g). This jam was imported from Poland by company BENEFIT Ltd. Želechovice nad Dřevnicí, which then supplied it to companies Kaufland Czech Republic v.o.s. and VERNER Food Ltd.

In November 2010, the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority concluded inspections focused on the sale of half-fermented wine (burčák) and partly-fermented grape must that can be sold only from the beginning of August until the end of November. Now the second round of results and the final results of laboratory analyses are available.

Mr. Vít Obenrauch, Deputy Director at the Brno Inspectorate, Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority, participated in a seminar in Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine, on 6th December 2010. The seminar aimed at assessing the current state of food safety in Palestine and at offering some alternatives for the development of the local control structures. The organizer ofthe event wasthe UN, the Agency ofthe United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in cooperation with the Czech representation in Ramallah. Since the seminar was held with the financial support of the Czech Republic, Mr. Obenrauch explained the workshop participants the current situation in the Czech Republic in the field of food safety. His presentation was a part of the official programme.

Although the main priority of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) is food safety, the Inspection pays great attention to controls of labeling, namely the detection of falsely labeled foodstuffs. CAFIA aims to protect economic interests of consumers and protect the interests of those food business operators complying with the rules that have been set to arrange for equal conditions at the marketplace.

Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority banned sale of ready-made noodles (package á 500g, best before date 30th September 2012), country of origin: China and glass noodles (package á 250g, best before date 31st December 2012) also originating from China.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority ordered to withdraw from the circulation product STILLA natura Pears dried sweetened (lot identification: L:46/08, best before date 8. 6. 2011, product weight 175 g) originating from China. Laboratory analyses have shown that that product contained sulphur dioxide in amount exceeding the allowable limit.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) detected aflatoxins exceeding the limits in product under trade name Pistachios roasted salted originating from Iran (lot identification: L81000118A, best before date 3. 6. 2011, packaging ŕ 500 g). The supplier of the food is company ENCINGER, Ltd. based in Bratislava which supplied pistachios to company Kaufland Czech Republic v.o.s. in total amount of 1 620 kg.

On 29 November 2010, the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority checked whether company Templářské sklepy Čejkovice took the imposed measures. The case of production of quality variety wines and varietal wines of inland provenience of 2009 vintage made from grapes of unknown origin was concerned (CAFIA press release of 16. 11. 2010).

On 4th November 2010, the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority informed that marketing of “Crisp slices of garlic and onion” (packaging á 106 g, best before date: 21st April 2011) was banned due to exceeded level of gluten. Further inspections at the POEX company in Velké Meziřící (the producer) revealed another product with exceeded gluten limit (best before date: 7th June 2011). Gluten content identified reached 59.7 mg/kg, the limit is set at 20 mg/kg.