• As of July 1^st, food quality in the entire supply chain will be monitored by the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection Authority (IJHARS).
• Until now, food quality in shops was checked by the Trade Inspection Authority (IH) and – at earlier stages of trade – the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection Authority.
• On July 1^st, the Trade Inspection Authority gained the right to disclose the data of inspected enterprises.

This year, the Trade Inspection Authority supervised by the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection celebrates the 70^th anniversary of its existence. At the same time, important changes regarding the scope of its competencies have entered into force two days ago.

Food quality inspections transferred to the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection Authority

As of July 1^st, food quality inspections at all stages of trade are the purview of the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Previously, food products intended for consumers in stores, wholesalers, pubs and restaurants are inspected by the Trade Inspection Authority, whereas at earlier stages, e.g. at the manufacturer, at the border, at packaging plants – by the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection Authority.

“The transfer of food quality inspections to a single institution is a major step towards specialising state institutions. On July 8th of this year, we will formally finalise the entire undertaking. This change is beneficial for consumers, farmers and enterprises operating in the agri-food sector, as it consolidates supervision over foods quality in the entire supply chain from “field to table”, says Tomasz Chróstny, President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.

The employees of provincial Trade Inspection Authorities, who have so far specialized in food inspections, have joined the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection Authority. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection also transferred control over 5 food laboratories: in Katowice, Kielce, Olsztyn, Poznań and Warsaw.

Summary of food inspections carried out by the Trade Inspection Authority

Every year, the Trade Inspection Authority conducts nearly 20,000 inspections and examines over 165,000 product batches. A large number of them were food products – ca. 7-8 thousand inspections conducted annually and over 120 thousand food products inspected per year. For example, inspectors have examined the quality and labelling of fish, meat, eggs, honey, mineral water, organic farming products, and even animal feed, dishes served at restaurants and meals prepared by catering companies for hospitals. Recently, inspections focused on whether country of origin labels are placed on vegetables and fruit have caught the attention of consumers, farmers and non-governmental organisations. As of July 1^st, supervision over food quality in stores and other placess where consumers can buy food has been taken over by the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection Authority.

The Trade Inspection Authority will be able to focus on inspecting quality, safety and labelling of non-food products, e.g. fuels, toys, clothes, sports equipment or consumer electronics and services. It will continue to monitor the proper transparency of prices in stores, including on food shelves. As before, it will also provide advice to consumers and help them amicably settle disputes with enterprises.

Disclosure of results of inspections carried out by the Trade Inspection Authority

On July 1^st, a very important change came into force regarding the new rules for communicating the results of inspections carried out by the Trade Inspection Authority. As of now, the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection may disclose, among other information, the address where the inspection was carried out, inspected enterprises and products and the irregularities discovered. In addition, the decisions issued by the President of the Office and provincial Trade Inspection Authority inspectors will be published in full by the Office or the provincial Trade Inspection Authorities on their websites. Only information considered a business secret is to be omitted. “I am glad that the data of enterprises that sell defective products will be publicly disclosed. Now it will be easier for consumers to check which products are worth buying and which ones to avoid. It is also important in terms of disciplining the enterprises themselves,” says Tomasz Chróstny, President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.

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