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Learn about Finland's comprehensive official control of food labeling and quality, ensuring compliance with regulations for food safety and consumer protection. Explore the legislation and strategies for effective enforcement.
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OFFICIAL CONTROL OF FOOD LABELLING AND FOOD QUALITY CONTROL Dr. Pirjo-Liisa Penttilä Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Finland
LEGISLATION • Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 Official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and welfare rules • Covers: food safety, other consumer protection (food labelling) • Came into force on 11th January 2006
WHY NEW LEGISLATION ? • Earlier legislation: sectoral, overlapping and loopholes • Problems with national control systems • Harmonised Community approach needed • Role of the Commission´s own control services not clear
FOOD SAFETYPOLICY • Must be based on a comprehensive , integrated approach • Business operators have the prime responsibility for safety • Competent authorities monitor and enforce this responsibility • Must be risk-based • Covering food chain ”farm to table”
MAIN TARGETS • Community framework of national control systems • General requirements for competent authorities • Their responsibilities to check that business comply with legislation • Also role of Commissions Food and Veterinary Office defined
NATIONAL ENFORCEMENT • Member States should establish and implement multiannual national control plans • Annual reports are needed: - how multiannual control plans are implemented, results, (indicators) - corrections to plans if needed • Commission control services verifies control activities and results
FINNISH NATIONAL PROGRAMME • Instructs officials in Finland how arrange food control which covers: Basic and special legislation Whole food and feed chain All type of products quality andlabelling Imports /Exports Laboratories, inspections, sampling
PLANNING OF PROGRAMME • Planning is based on domestic co-operation -different ministries -district authorities -local authorities
PLANNING OF PROGRAMME 2 • Timing of planning is important • Activities for the next year should be ready as early as possible (Multiannual/Annual Progarams) • EU has schedules for specific control programs
PLANNING OF PROGRAMME 3 • Financing must be planned: - sampling and laboratory analysis • Reserving laboratory capasity • Sampling officers should be available • Good knowledge of the item is needed - training programs
PLANNING OF PROGRAMME 4 • National plan can be based on: • Legislation (EU or national) • Recommendations (EU or national) • Earlier activities • Found violations • Risk evaluation • Consumer or other interests
PLANNING OF PROGRAMME 5 • National Food Agency is responsible for co-ordination of national programme • NFA expects local authorities to prepare their own food control plans, taking into consideration the contents of the national food control programme
PLANNING OF PROGRAMME 6 • Local plans should be submitted to provincial state offices by the end of February • They should be based on up-to-date information concerning all local food establishments, risk assessment, available resources and statuory requirements
EU MONITORING PROGRAMMES • EU legislation • national salmonella programme • foreign subtances in products of animal origin • pesticide residues • dioxins in fish -EU co-ordinated annual programmes
Examples from national programmes • Evaluations of local food control • HACCP systems: development and training continued • Effects of new food legislation • Import Control • Control programmes: Products from nature Yersinia etc.
Annex LIST OF LEGISLATION GUIDELINES FOR FOOD CONTROL - responsibilities of different authorities • planning of control • registration of establishments • monitoring of in-house control • sampling and laboratory analyses
CHANGES NEEDED IN FINLAND • Multiannual plans / Annual plans: How to implement? • Examples from other EU countries • More public information of official food control , Campaignes • How to take into consideration in-house control • Development of indicators and information systems