The National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), through the Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Directorates (DSVSA), has carried out the first stage of intensified official inspections to verify compliance with the requirements for hemp seeds, poppy seeds, products derived from them, or containing them, as well as the illegal use of psychoactive, psychotropic, and narcotic substances in non-animal origin food products.

The official inspection targeted non-animal origin food depots, other food storage facilities, vegetable oil manufacturing/obtaining units, milling and bakery product manufacturing units, confectionery/pastry product manufacturing units, chocolate and sweet product manufacturing units, other units that introduce or could introduce hemp seeds, poppy seeds, products derived from them, or containing them, and units that could illegally use or market psychoactive, psychotropic, and narcotic substances in non-animal origin food products.

The main non-compliances identified are related to:

• Lack of product traceability and compliance assurance.
• Absence of self-control programs or the lack of determinations for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and opium alkaloids, as applicable, within the self-control programs.
• Non-compliance with hygiene conditions and the implementation of HACCP principles based procedures, as per the current legislation.
• Undertaking unregistered activities in terms of sanitary-veterinary and food safety.

For the identified non-compliances in these types of units, 10 fines were issued, totaling 81,200 lei.

To date, 1,177 official inspections have been carried out, and 82 samples have been taken. Of these, 8 poppy seed samples are non-compliant (exceeding the allowed limits of opium alkaloids), and a quantity of 10,523 kg with a value of 122,127 lei has been retained.

Under the supervision of ANSVSA inspectors, in accordance with applicable legislation, these products will either undergo processing methods to reduce the opium alkaloid content and its effects (with a final check for compliance with limits) or be destroyed, depending on each specific situation.

Relevant state authorities have been informed and are conducting investigations within their areas of competence. Inspections related to this issue will continue. Communication and Documentary Logistics Service