In the period leading up to the Winter Holidays, the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), through its control structures at the national level, is intensifying specific official inspections to ensure citizens a trade with safe food.

From the compilation of the initial data provided by the county Veterinary and Food Safety Directorates, a total of 3,305 inspections were conducted in the period from November 30 to December 11, including:

• Units for storing animal origin products authorized or registered for veterinary and food safety,
• Agro-food markets, fairs,
• Hypermarkets/supermarkets,
• Units for selling food products of animal and non-animal origin,
• Public catering units.

Irregularities identified during the inspections were penalized by the imposition of 291 fines, totaling 1,891,860 lei.

Additionally, 6 Orders to suspend activities and one Order to prohibit activities were issued.

A total quantity of 4,618.9 kg of animal origin products (pork, poultry, fish and fish products, milk, dairy products, and 389,104 eggs) with a value of 294,086 lei, as well as 7,900 kg of non-animal origin products, were officially retained.

Among the identified and penalized deficiencies are:

• Improper storage and labeling of food products,
• Products with expired shelf life,
• Sale of food products without complying with hygiene conditions or in unregistered veterinary and food safety spaces,
• Improper handling of food products,
• Lack of documents to attest to the conformity or traceability of products,
• Transport of food products with unregistered veterinary vehicles,
• Transport of animals with unauthorized veterinary vehicles and without the necessary documents.

ANSVSA will continue to monitor operators in the food industry in the coming period by intensifying inspection and control actions on this topic and ensuring a permanent service provided by veterinary and food safety personnel at the county level and in Bucharest.

We remind citizens of the toll-free "Call Center" number of ANSVSA - 0800 826 787 - which can be called from any telephone network to report irregularities in the field of food safety. Communication and Documentary Logistics Service