AgriculturAl And Food

QuAlity inspection

3

PREFACE

It is my pleasure to give into your hands new edition of the brochure on the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection. With this brochure we aim to present concise information on main responsibilities and activities of the Inspection. The Inspection, responsible to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has been established on 1 January 2003, however the idea of food and agricultural products quality control in Poland goes back to the 1930s.

The Inspection fulfills its statutory tasks in professional and impartial manner in order to protect consumers’ and food producers’ interests. This is realized by identifying cases of fraudulent practices in food sector, preventing unfair competition, as well as promoting food of high quality. According to recent data, the Inspection carried out almost 13,000 quality inspections in domestic market and over 90,000 quality inspections at import and export stage yearly.

We identified the following strategic objectives:• counteraction to marketing of agri-food products of improper quality,• securing sustainable development of laboratory analytic potential,• ensuring effective cooperation and participation of Poland in activities of international

organizations and the European Union in the area of setting food standards.

Since its foundation the Inspection promotes improvement in professionalism of human resources and capacity building aiming to face emerging challenges related to dynamically growing food sector.

I hope the hereby elaboration will meet the expectations, providing useful information about the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection.

Stanisław KowalczykChief Inspector of Agricultural and Food Quality

ORGANISATION SCHEME

AFQI tasks are performed by:

• The Chief Inspector of Agricultural and Food Quality, with the support of the Main Inspectorate, as the central government authority responsible to the Minister competent for the agricultural markets;

• The Voivod, with support of Voivodeship Inspector of Agricultural and Food Quality, as supervisor of the Voivodeship Inspectorate, which is a part of the joint provincial administration.

The organizational structure of AFQI consists of:

• Main Inspectorate,• 16 Voivodeship Inspectorates,• 6 accredited laboratories.

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Minister of Agricultureand Rural Development

chieF inspector oF AgriculturAl And Food QuAlity

Voivodeship Inspector (16)Voivode (16)

Substantial Units

Chief Executive Officer

Substantial Units

Deputy Chief Inspector (2)

Substantial Units Central Laboratory in Poznan +5 Specialized

Laboratories

Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection

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LEGAL BASIS

Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (AFQI) started its activity on 1 January 2003 under the national Act of December 21, 2000 on Commercial Quality of Agricultural and Food products. It was created on the basis of two inspection bodies: Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (CIS) and Inspection for Purchasing and Processing of Agricultural Products (ISiPAR).

Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection Inspection for purchasing and processing of Agricultural products

Quality management system

In 2005, AFQI implemented the quality management system based on the requirements of the international standard ISO 9001. In 2011 Inspection introduced the system in order to prevent corruption risks.

Main tasks

1. Quality control of agricultural and food products, at production and trading stage, including:• supervision of fruit and vegetable market,• supervision of classification of bovine and porcine carcasses in the EUROP system,• issuing certificates on commercial quality of agricultural and food products,• conducting trainings for experts in the scope of sampling, setting quality classes or method of

production of certain agricultural and food products;2. Supervision of organic farming;3. Protection of regional and traditional products;4. Cooperation with paying agencies in the scope of the Common Agricultural Policy - control

"ex-ante" and control "ex-post";5. Coordination of Polish cooperation with international organisations dealing with food and its

marketing.

In addition AFQI supervises wine and fertilizers markets likewise controls conditions of geese’s breeding and fattening. Inspection also conducts certification of hops and hop products and checks correctness of reporting on market data concerning bovine.

ISiPAR

LABORATORIES

Analyses of agricultural and food products are conducted in 6 official Inspection’s laboratories:

• Central Laboratory in Poznan,• 5 specialised laboratories in Bialystok, Gdynia, Kielce, Lublin and Szczecin.

AFQI laboratories gradually expand analytical capabilities and a range of accredited methodologies. All Inspection’s laboratories are accredited by Polish Centre for Accreditation according to PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025.

number of accredited methodologies in Inspection laboratories in 2003-2013

76

Employment in AFQI

In 2013 AFQI’s staff consisted of 659 employees including 32 on managerial positions. 387 employees were directly involved in the implementation of statutory tasks, including commercial quality control of agricultural and food products. 110 employees worked in laboratories. The remaining 130 persons were employees of the administration, human resources, accountancy, legal and IT services.

employment in Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection in 2013

laboratory staff inspectors executives other AFQI employees

02003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

142 166 184

367504 553 604 646

727811

905

58%

5%

20% 17%

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QUALITY CONTROL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD PRODUCTS

Supervision of food products quality

Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection is the competent authority supervising quality of agricultural and food products in Poland. In the framework of this broad task, AFQI carries out quality controls at production, domestic market, as well as import and export stage.

AFQI carries out inspections with respect to quality of all major food products' groups including meat and meat products, milk and milk products, fish and fish products, processed fruit and vegetables, cereal products (i.a. baker's products, pasta), confectionery and chocolate products, fats and oils (including olive oils), eggs, spirit drinks and beers, honey and spices.

The control of agricultural and food products carried out by the AFQI covers at least one of following activities:• checking of documents in order to identify the food and agricultural product, quality

certificates, results of laboratory analyses and other documents that confirm quality, • checking of packaging, labelling, presentation of agricultural and food products as well as its

transport and storage conditions, • examination of agricultural and food products, • sampling and laboratory analyses, • determination of class (category) of agricultural and food products, • control of the way of production or correctness of processing (if it arises from separate

provisions).

Inspection’s authorities can prohibit placing on the market agricultural or food product non-compliant with relevant regulations and can impose penalties on entities which place on the market:• adulterated agricultural and food products,• products non-corresponding with commercial quality requirements detailed in regulations or

declared by producer on the package.

Moreover AFQI performs a number of supervision tasks related to quality of agricultural and food products described later on in separate sections of the brochure.

Due to the fact that Poland is the European Union Member State since 1st May 2004, AFQI realises all its tasks in accordance with the EU legislation.

In 2013 the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development designated the Chief Inspector of Agriculture and Food Quality as the Food Fraud Contact Point for Poland - the member of the Food Fraud Network composed of national contact points from all the EU Member States.

The main tasks of the Food Fraud Contact Point are: • to facilitate the flow of information, • to coordinate the execution of coordinated control plans recommended by the European

Commission in the field of food fraud.

Supervision of fruit and vegetable market in Poland

In Poland tasks related to the commercial quality control of the fresh fruits and vegetables resulting from the European Union legislation have been assigned to AFQI under the national Act of december 19, 2003 on organization of the fruit and vegetables market, hops market, dried fodder market and markets of flax and hemp grown for fibre.

Inspection executes the following tasks concerning market of fresh fruit and vegetables:• carrying out controls on conformity with

marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables on domestic market as well as at import and export stage,

• maintaining database of traders placing fresh fruits and vegetables on the market.

Control conducted by the Inspection include checking conformity with the requirements of specific marketing standards and a general marketing standard. If a trader declares conformity with the UN/ECE standard for a particular species, inspections are conducted for checking conformity with the requirements of the declared standard.

AFQI does not conduct conformity checks of fresh fruit and vegetables intended for industrial processing, animal feed or other non-food purposes.

AFQI, after conformity check, issues one of the following documents:• certificate of conformity with the EU marketing

standards for fresh fruits and vegetables – if products are compliant with the requirements in standards,

• non-conformity protocol with the EU marketing standards for fresh fruits and vegetables – if products are not compliant with the requirements in standards.

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Supervision of classification of bovine and porcine carcasses in the EUROP system

AFQI is responsible for supervising the commercial quality of slaughtered animals, including the classification of bovine and porcine carcasses and recording of their market prices.

Inspection’s tasks in this area include checking the following aspects:• correctness of classification and labelling of

bovine and porcine carcasses,• accuracy of documentation concerning steps for

determining quality classes of carcasses,• conformity of documentation issued to suppliers

of slaughter animals with meat establishments’ documentation in respect of category, quality class and weight of caresses,

• validity of qualified classifiers’ authorisations for classification of carcasses,

• use of the methods approved by the European Commission for porcine classification.

Supervision of wine market

Inspection supervises market of wine under the national Act of May 12, 2011 on the production and bottling of wine products, marketing of these products and the organization of the wine market.

Wine products from all entities producing wine from grapes which wine-growing area is situated within Polish territory and their data were provided by the Agricultural Market Agency are subject to quality control.

Control in the frame of the wine market supervision exercised by AFQI include checking the following aspects:• formal and legal requirements, including the

development and implementation of the internal control system of the wine production and bottling,

• accuracy of the records of goods inwards and outwards of the wine products,

• documents accompanying consignments of wine

products, including the wine imported from third countries,• physico-chemical parameters of the wine products samples, on the basis of laboratory tests,• labelling of the wine intended for trade,• correctness of oenological practices i.e. enrichment, de-acidification and sweetening,• correctness of the process of removing the by-products derived from wine producing process

(relates to entities producing more than 25 hectolitres of wine in a representative period).

In addition, the AFQI’s authorities are competent in providing certification procedure for particular vintage year and wines from specific grape varieties, as well as monitoring of correct use of protected designations of origin, geographical indications and traditional wine products.

Implementation of the mentioned tasks assigned to the Inspection as regards supervision of the wine market ensures that wine products introduced into the market have appropriate quality.

Certification of hops and hop products in Poland

AFQI, under the national Act of december 19, 2003 on organization of the fruit and vegetables, hops market, dried fodder market and markets in flax and hemp grown for fibre and respective EU legislation carries out tasks related to the certification of the hops and hop products.

Certification of hops and hop products includes the following steps:• notification of hop gardens to the register kept by Voivodeship Inspector of Agricultural and

Food Quality,• control of the varietal uniformity of the hop gardens,• packing, weighing and sampling for laboratory tests, • sealing packages of the hops and hop products,• labelling of hops and hop products packages,• issuing certificates for the hops or hop product.

Only appropriately certified hops and hop products and imported hops and hop products accompanied by equivalence attestations issued in the country of origin can be placed on the market.

Supervision of beef market prices reporting

AFQI is responsible for supervising of data transfer concerning market prices of bovine to the Integrated Agricultural Market Information System.

Inspection’s tasks in this area include checking the following aspects:• accuracy of data used to compile a weekly report from meat establishments documentation

(data related to purchase price of cattle and number of slaughtered animals),• correctness of applied methodology for registration of market data for calculation of purchase

price of cattle.

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Supervision of marketing of bovine meat from cattle aged less than twelve months

AFQI is responsible for supervising of the marketing of veal and young bovine meat which mean bovine meat from cattle aged less than twelve months.

Inspection’s tasks in this area include checking the following aspects:• correctness of labelling of the carcasses from bovine animals aged less than twelve months

with category identification letter of "V" or "Z",• correctness of bovine meat labelling of the age of the slaughtered animal accordingly to

allocated category, at each step of production and marketing,• correctness of sale descriptions under which the meat is sold,• correctness of information recording by operators at slaughterhouses and meat processing

establishments.

Control of goose breeding and fattening conditions

AFQI carries out inspections concerning marketing of goose meat, which is labelled with information on the conditions of production. Goose breeding and fattening conditions are determined by the European Union legislation and the national regulation on the “Young Polish Oats-Fed Geese (Młoda polska gęś owsiana)” trademark developed by the National Poultry Council – Polish Chamber of Commerce.

Inspection’s tasks in this area include checking the following aspects:• conditions of the goose breeding,• conditions of the goose fattening,• correctness of labelling of packages containing goose meat.

Supervision of fertilizers, fertilizers designated "EC FERTILIZER" and plant conditioners

Inspection’s tasks in this area include checking the following aspects:• correctness of marketing of the fertilizers and plant conditioners, based on the permission

issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,• correctness of marketing of fertilizers designated "EC FERTILIZER",• compliance with the conditions for marketing of fertilizers, fertilizers designated "EC

FERTILIZER" and plant conditioners,• correctness of labels, packaging units and their correct labelling, as well as accompanying

documents – for fertilizers, fertilizers designated "EC FERTILIZER" and plant conditioners sold in bulk.

ORGANIC FARMING

The Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection plays an important role in the organic farming control system (established by the Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007). The aim of this quality scheme is to guarantee the consumers that products marketed as organic were subjected to a system of control covering all stages of production, preparation and distribution, and procedures, which confirmed the compliance with the requirements of relevant regulations. At the national level, the tasks of AFQI, set out in the national Act of 25 June 2009 on organic farming, include:• supervising the control bodies in organic farming and organic production (by conducting audits

of control bodies and carrying out control of operators),• authorising imports of organic farming products from third countries (only till 30.06.2014),• conducting border inspections of organic products from third countries,• organising exams for organic farming inspectors authorised to conduct controls on behalf of

the control bodies and maintaining a register of such inspectors, • collecting, processing, storing and analysing the data on organic operators and making such

data available upon request of an interested party,• authorising operators to use exceptions from the organic production rules under specific

conditions laid down in the Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008, taking over the power of control body, which authorisation has been withdrawn.

organic operators in poland in 2004-2013

5000

10 000

15 000

25 000

20 000

30 000

02004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

3 7607 182 9 194

12 12115 206

17 42320 956

23 84726 376 27 203

PROTECTION OF REGIONAL AND TRADITIONAL PRODUCTS

Within the framework of the EU system for registering and protecting the names of regional and traditional product, Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection carries out checks of conformity of production process of products with registered protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI) and traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) with the specification.

The checks carried out by AFQI confirm the originality of the product, its specific features and high quality. The control also ensures the protection of agricultural products and foodstuffs with PDO, PGI or TSG against unfair trade practices.

The European Commission registered 36 Polish products in the PDO, PGI and TSG system.

number of products registered in pdo, pGI and tSG system in the eU countries (till 15th April 2014)

Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection supervises the control bodies authorised by the Minister competent for agricultural markets.

The minister authorised 5 certifying bodies to carry out controls and to issue and withdraw certificates confirming that products with registered PDO, PGI and TSG meet the requirements laid down in the specification.

The tasks of AFQI also include the official control of agricultural products and foodstuffs with registered PDO, PGI and TSG. Official control ensures that registered names are protected against any direct or indirect commercial use, any misuse, imitation or evocation, as well as any other practice liable to mislead the consumer as to the true origin of the product.

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EX-POST CONTROL

Since 2005, AFQI has been carrying out ex-post controls of Polish beneficiaries, who received payments from the European Union via the paying agencies. Ex-post control is implemented on the basis of the national Act of December 21, 2000 on Commercial Quality of Agricultural and Food products and in accordance with the Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy.

The purpose of the ex-post control is to confirm whether the transactions carried out by beneficiaries receiving payments from the European Union have actually been made and if they were executed correctly. Commercial documents that directly or indirectly relate to the payment system of the funds are subject to control.

In 2005-2014, the scope of the controls carried out by AFQI concerned several mechanisms of the Common Agricultural Policy.

In 2005-2014, AFQI audited beneficiaries who received aid from the EU for a total amount of more then 1 billion EUR.

payments received from the eU by polish beneficiaries of CAp and audited by AFQI in 2005-2014 (eUr)

€ 50 mln

€ 100 mln

€ 150 mln

€ 250 mln

€ 200 mln

€ 300 mln

€ 350 mln

02005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013 2013/2014

50

100

150

200

250

300

264211

178124 101 78

57 36 33 19 15 15 15 14 14610 610 5 4 22 1 1 0 0 00

Italy

Fran

ce

Spai

n

port

ugal

Gre

ece

Ger

man

y

Uni

ted

King

dom

pola

nd

Czec

h re

bubl

ic

Slov

enia

Slov

akia

Belg

ium

Aust

ria

hun

gary

net

herla

nds

Finl

and

lith

uani

a

Swed

en

den

mar

k

Irela

nd

luxe

mbo

urg

Cypr

us

latv

ia

Bulg

aria

rom

ania

Croa

tia

esto

nia

Mat

la

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In 2005-2014 AFQI carried out a total number of 1 572 inspections (planned and cross-checks).

AFQI's involvement in the ex-post control system increase continually each year, due to the increased participation of Polish beneficiaries in the mechanisms of the internal market.

number of the ex-post inspections carried out by AFQI in 2005-2014 (till 15th April 2014)

planned controls cross-checks

COORDINATION OF POLISH COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DEALING WITH FOOD AND ITS MARKETING

The Inspection co-operates with the following international bodies dealing with quality and safety of the food and international trade:• FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (FAO/WHO CAC);• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE);• Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection acts as the FAO/WHO Codex Contact Point for Poland and coordinates Polish cooperation and participation in work of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission and its more then 20 advisory bodies.In this respect AFQI carries out consultations with Polish experts from governmental and non-governmental bodies i.a.: ministries, official food control services, consumers and food industry associations, scientific institutes, universities.

participation of polish delegates in the Sessions of the FAo/Who Codex Alimentarius Commission and its Committees

total number of delegates number of delegates from the Inspection

In 2009-2013 Inspection was responsible for performing on behalf of Poland the function of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Coordinator for Europe. Just before and during both Polish terms of office AFQI organised three sessions of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe (in year 2008, 2010 and 2012) and, in association with FAO and WHO, four workshop meetings on the Codex Alimentarius (in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012).

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

14

5

16

7

15

22

78

19

913

5

13

3

18

9

28

15 1614

85

02005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013 2012/2013

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

250

152

17

7583

33

185

56

130

49

106

74

173

8497

223

170

On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, in 2013 in Pulawy (Poland), the international conference on Food Safety Risk Analysis – Fifty years with Codex Alimentarius in the European Region was held. The conference constituted a summary of the Poland’s four-year work as the FAO/WHO Regional Coordinator for Europe.

Inspection also coordinates Polish co-operation with the Council of the European Union Working Party on Codex Alimentarius (F. 23). During the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2011, AFQI was responsible for chairing the work of the above working group.

participation of polish delegates in the meetings of the Council of the european Union Working party on Codex Alimentarius (F. 23)

total number of delegates number of delegates from the Inspection

Additionally, Inspection runs the Polish Secretariat of co-operation with the UN/ECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards. Within this task the Inspection cooperates with national institutions and coordinates participation of Poland in activities of the Working Party and its specialized sections. Polish experts are particularly involved in work of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables and Specialized Section on Standardization of Meat.

AFQI also represents Poland in the OECD Scheme for Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables by direct participation in the following activities:• the plenary Sessions of the OECD Scheme,• works on interpretation brochures on quality standards, • trainings, • international meetings of Heads of quality control services organized by the OECD Scheme.

AFQI employees participate actively in the work of various experts’ groups of the European Commission related to the scope of competence of the Inspection.

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Agricultural and Food Quality InspectionMain Inspectorate

30 Wspólna St.Tel. +48 22 623-29-00, +48 22 623-29-01

fax +48 22 623-29-99e-mail: sekretariat@ijhars.gov.pl

www.ijhars.gov.pl

45

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

21

7

19

1016

964

14

5

19

8

22 2119

12

41

32

20

11