ANSVSA Wraps Up National “Zero Tolerance for Food Irregularities” Campaign

The National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) has concluded its national inspection campaign, “Zero Tolerance for Food Irregularities,” reaffirming its strong commitment to public health protection and the fight against food fraud.

Launched on June 13, the campaign was conducted under the direct coordination of ANSVSA President Dr. Alexandru Bociu, and was implemented in parallel with the Summer Command Center set up in Constanța starting June 16.

These two initiatives complemented each other, combining rigorous inspections with advisory efforts, prevention strategies, and open dialogue with food businesses.

Enhanced Coordination for Effective Controls

To ensure efficiency and thoroughness, a temporary task force was formed, comprising executive directors of the Veterinary and Food Safety Directorates from the counties of Olt, Dâmbovița, Teleorman, Ialomița, and the Municipality of Bucharest, along with specialist inspectors from these regions.

Inspection Results

Targeted inspections were carried out in hypermarkets, supermarkets, restaurants, fast food outlets, butcher shops, fish stores, and storage facilities. The primary focus was on verifying compliance with food safety laws, product traceability, and adherence to hygiene and operational standards.

Key results of the campaign include:

• 441 businesses inspected
• 336 fines issued, totaling 5,407,000 lei
• 21 activity suspensions (11 supermarkets, 10 hypermarkets)
• 5 activity prohibitions (1 hypermarket, 3 supermarkets, 1 cold storage unit)
• 11,783 kg of food products (meat, fish, dairy, vegetables, fruit, baked goods, and desserts) and 4,326 eggs officially seized and sent for disposal
• 42.5 kg of non-animal products with falsified labeling, triggering a food fraud alert via the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)
• 93 sanitation tests conducted to evaluate the cleanliness of food preparation areas
• 41 food samples collected for species identification, aimed at detecting fraudulent substitutions

Campaign Objectives

The campaign focused on achieving the following objectives:

• Strengthening food safety and consumer health protection
• Increasing voluntary compliance among food operators
• Enhancing the ability to prevent and respond quickly to food safety risks
• Sending a clear message of zero tolerance for violations
• Supporting a fair and competitive business environment

Prevention and Education: A Collaborative Approach

A key feature of this campaign was its educational and collaborative dimension. Through the Summer Command Center, ANSVSA conducted:

• Training and information sessions for food industry operators
• Direct meetings with business representatives
• Public awareness campaigns on food-related risks

“It is essential that authorities are not seen solely as enforcers. We want a genuine partnership with food business operators, built on professionalism and prevention,” said Dr. Alexandru Bociu, President of ANSVSA.

Ongoing Commitment: Inspections and Collaboration

Although the national campaign has ended, ANSVSA continues its inspection activities nationwide, covering all types of food establishments—retailers, warehouses, processing units, and transport operations.

At the same time, ANSVSA is strengthening its advisory and communication efforts, supporting operators in voluntary compliance and risk anticipation.

“Moving forward, our efforts will remain focused on the coastal region through the Summer Command Center. We aim to offer tourists a high level of food safety during their holidays. Our inspection teams will conduct daily checks in all tourist areas along the coast throughout the summer season,” added Dr. Bociu.

“Our goal is to significantly reduce food risks, increase compliance levels, and strengthen consumer trust in Romanian market products. This is a shared effort that demands responsibility, precision, and continuous communication.”