Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Food Safety in
the Czech Republic
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Why to put emphasis on food
safety?
 It concerns everyone
 91% of EU population express interest in it
 Has direct impact on:
• the quality and length of life
• population health
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Basic legal framework
Treaty establishing EC
• Article 3 – high level of health protection and
strengthening of consumer protection
• Article 95 – use of new scientific knowledge
as a basis
• Article 152 – high level of human health
protection must be part of any Community
policy
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Assuring food safety
Based on Regulation of the EP and of the Council
No 178/2002
Requires good communication
• among Ministries
• with non-government organisations
• with expert as well as general public
Information based on scientific findings
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Fundamental strategic documents
in the Czech Republic I
Food Safety Strategy in the CR
• adopted by the Government in 2001
• lays down key requirements for the
pre-accession period
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Fundamental strategic documents
in the Czech Republic II
Food Safety Strategy in the CR after Accession
to the EU
• adopted in December 2004
• review in 2006
• emphasis on improved communication within the CR,
EU Member States, EU bodies and third countries
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Inter-ministerial co-operation I
Ministry of Agriculture
• co-ordination of the food safety system
• supervision over production of food and feed
Ministry of Health
• assessment of health risks
• supervision over catering
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Inter-ministerial co-operation II
Ministry of the Environment
• monitoring and assessment of the environment
Ministry of Interior
• crisis management
State Office for Nuclear Safety
• radiation monitoring
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Inter-ministerial co-operation
takes place through
FOOD SAFETY
CO-ORDINATION UNIT
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Co-ordination Unit I
 Established in 2002
 Consists of:
• representatives of central state administration bodies
• relevant state supervisory bodies
• consumer and industry organisations
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Co-ordination Unit II - functions
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Advisory body of the Minister of Agriculture
Co-ordinates activities in the food safety area
Provides for co-operation among state
Supervisory bodies, scientific committees,
Consumers and state administration
Co-operates with the EFSA and national food
Safety institutions in EU Member States
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Diagram of the CU
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Scientific committees I
 Established in 2002
 Main tasks:
• Preparation of independent assessments
• Proposals of measures to assure food safety across the
Food production chain
• Assessment of research and development trends
 Advisory body
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Scientific Committees II
 Scientific Committee for Phytosanitary Tasks
and Environment
 Scientific Committee for Veterinary Tasks
 Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition
 Scientific Committee for Foodstuffs
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
European Food Safety Authority
EFSA
Regulation of the EP and of the Council No. 178/2002,
Regulation of the Commission No. 2230/2004
• Co-operation with similar authorities of the Member
States of the EU and EFTA
• Scientific assessment at Community level
• Risk communication
• Opinions on Community regulations
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Co-operation between the CR and
the EFSA
 Ensure and co-ordinate Food Safety Co-ordination Unit
 Co-operation from 3/2003 in the capacity of an observer
At present:
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Participation in the meetings of the EFSA Advisory Forum,
Working group for communication,
Working group for IT;
Access to Extranet
Future communication – video-conferences
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Rapid Alert System for Food
and Feed - RASFF
 Operated by the European Commission from 1978
 Purpose to restrict marketing or to assure recall of
hazardous food and feed
 Members:
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European Commission, EFSA and Member States
In accordance with Regulation of the EP and of the
Council No. 178/2002
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Participation of the CR in the
RASFF
 Preparations for participation from 2002
 Members:
• SAFIA, SVA, CISTA, OOVZ, SONS,
• MoA, MH
 Co-operating - MD, MS, MI, MF-GDC, IAFI
Act on Foodstuffs No. 110/1997 Coll.
Act on Feedingstuffs No. 91/1996 Coll.
Government Decree – in effect from 3/2005
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Strategic opportunities in RASFF
in the CR
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More effective communication among members
Link to control plans
Emphasis on traceability of hazardous food and feed
Improved awareness of consumers, IAFI, MoA
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Monitoring of contaminants
in food chain I
 Information system on contaminants in food chains
launched at the MoA in 1992
 True information on the situation, dynamics and
mutual links of the load in individual components of
agricultural water and forest ecosystems
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Monitoring of contaminants II
Competences of the Ministry of Agriculture:
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Raw materials and foodstuffs
Feed and drinking water
Agricultural land
Fallout on agricultural land
Surface water (small watercourses)
Water and forest ecosystems
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Monitoring III
Organisations performing monitoring in agriculture:
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SAFIA, SVA CR, CISTA
Agricultural Water Management Administration
Institute for Water Management in Forests
Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation
Research Institute of Crop Production
Forestry Research Institute
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Genetically modified organisms
GMO I - food
Based on Regulation of the EP and of the Council
No. 1829/2003
Covers:
• GMO´s for use in food
• GMO containing food
• food manufactured from GMO´s or containing ingredients
from GMO´s
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Genetically modified organisms
GMO II - feed
Chapter III. of Regulation of the EP and of the Council
No.1829/2003
Covers:
• GMO´s for use in feed
• GMO containing feed
• feed produced from GMO´s
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
GMO III - Administration of GMO
Administration of applications includes co-operation
among:
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Applicant
Member State (MoA, MH, ME, CISTA)
EFSA
Commission
Public
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Novel Food
Based on Regulation of the EP and of the Council
No. 258/1997
Covers:
• food from plants and food components from animals
• food from plants and food components from animals
• food produced by unusual procedure
Necessary co-operation with applicant + Member State +
expert food assessment bodies + Commission
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Communication with consumers‘
organisations
 Close co-operation of the MoA with non-government
organisations
 Participation of representatives of “consumers” in:
the Co-ordination Unit
 The Working Group for communication with
consumers
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Working Group for communication
with consumers
 Representatives of Ministries, Scientific Committees,
consumers‘ organisations and the IAFI
 Objectives:
• Informing the public and raising its awareness
• Promotion of appropriate dietary habits among
consumers
• Raising consumers‘ awareness and promotion of
domestic produce
 Information flows for general public
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Food Safety Information Centre I
www.bezpecnostpotravin.cz
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News
Information on Food Safety Co-ordination Unit
Information on Scientific Committees
Reports from the monitoring of contaminants
Supervision over foodstuffs
Legislation (CR, EU, Codex Alimentarius, Standards)
Links to food safety websites
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Food Safety Information Centre II
INFO-DESK
 Service to answer questions from general public
 Access from internet, by phone, fax, in person
• answer within three days
 Examples of questions
• May I lodge a complaint about cheese without sales slip?
• Are meat products suitable for coeliacs?
Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Thank you
Do you have any questions or remarks ??
Do not hesitate to contact
@mze.cz
or
www.bezpecnostpotravin.cz