During the Summer Season Command 2023, inspection teams are operating nationwide, both in the resorts along the Black Sea coast and in recreational areas and tourist destinations throughout the country.

The goal is to protect the health of consumers, given the high influx of tourists and increased food-related activities in the catering industry in recreational areas and tourist destinations.

For this purpose, each county's Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate (DSVSA) has established teams of inspectors who conduct official inspections in retail units subject to veterinary and food safety registration and control.

To streamline these inspections, the county DSVSAs receive support from local authorities, who inform them about periods and locations where specific events are organized (summer fairs, pilgrimages during religious holidays, local festivities, etc.), ensuring that these events take place without food-related incidents.

The inspections conducted by veterinary and food safety inspectors target the hygiene conditions in operation at public catering units, pizzerias, canteens, catering facilities, confectioneries, pastry shops, confectionery and pastry laboratories, tourist guesthouses, hypermarkets, supermarkets, and food stores, ensuring compliance with the requirements for veterinary and food safety registration of retail units.

Between June 26 and July 2, inspections were carried out at 1,549 units, including:

• 486 restaurants
• 64 pizzerias
• 56 canteens
• 33 catering units
• 60 confectioneries and pastry shops
• 83 confectionery and pastry laboratories
• 69 tourist guesthouses
• 81 hypermarkets and supermarkets
• 337 food stores
• 176 food trucks
• 92 food warehouses
• 12 school camps

A total of 165 administrative fines, amounting to 1,117,200 lei, were imposed for non-compliance with veterinary and food safety regulations. Additionally, an activity suspension ordinance was issued for a restaurant unit located in Moeciu, Brasov County.

Veterinary inspectors also ordered official seizure and disposal measures for 118 kg of animal-origin food products that posed risks to consumer health.

Among the identified and sanctioned non-compliances resulting from the inspections were:

• Non-compliance with veterinary and sanitary norms regarding hygiene and temperature conditions in the production and sale spaces of food products.
• Deficiencies in food product labeling, handling, and storage.
• Selling food in units that were not registered for veterinary and food safety purposes.
• Operators of some retail units not having developed and implemented their own control programs.