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 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 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: 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: 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  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: 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: 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: 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 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 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 or