Occurrence of chemical contaminants in animal products during 1999–2016 in the Czech Republic

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (9) ◽  
pp. 2142-2154
Author(s):  
Martina Tunegová ◽  
Eva Samková ◽  
Lucie Hasoňová ◽  
Marcela Klimešová ◽  
Aneta Marková ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the results of inspections carried out by the State Veterinary Administration (SVA) of Czech Republic (CR) for the occurrence of chemical contaminants in animal products before and after CR entered the European Union (EU). Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from e-databases of the SVA from 1999–2016 and sorted into categories (game animals and fish; livestock; food and raw material of animal origin) and time periods (one before entry and two after entry of CR to the EU). Analyses of the samples were categorized as “positive samples” (any presence of contaminants) and “samples above the MRL” (presence of contaminants exceeding the maximum residue levels). Findings Results showed a significant decrease in the number of positive findings of contaminants during the monitored years 1999–2016, especially after CR entered the EU. Most encouragingly, the number of samples that exceeded the MRL was less than 1 percent from all the tested samples of animal origin and, after entry to the EU, in one category (food and raw materials of animal origin) it was even less than 0.1 percent. Findings of banned substances indicate continued environmental contamination in CR; however, this remains a problem in most of Europe due to their extensive use in the past and slow degradation. Originality/value This paper provides an overview of the occurrence of chemical contaminants and their levels in food of animal origin in view of the changing legislative requirements before and after CR entered the EU.

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.C. Duarte ◽  
C.M. Lino ◽  
A. Pena

Several toxic effects have been described after exposure to ochratoxin A (OTA), which can enter the human diet directly through food or through animal products via carry-over from contaminated feed. To assess the exposure of the Portuguese population to OTA, a study over a two-year period was conducted. It involved analysis of 472 morning urine samples from inhabitants of four regions, together with a survey of regional bread (738) and pork (254) samples. These foodstuffs are two staple foods in the Portuguese and Mediterranean diet that present a high and widespread consumption by the majority of the population. The bread samples analysed showed a low level of contamination, although the contamination range was broad and some of the samples exceeded the maximum level established in the European Union. Maize bread (broa), especially when made by mixing with rye, was the most contaminated, followed by whole grain-, rye- and wheat-based bread. However, the latter contributed more to OTA exposure, because they were more commonly consumed. Even though the occurrence was rather low, the average OTA amount in pork was relatively high compared to previous national and other surveys. The observed high within-subject variability of OTA in urine limited the use of this biomarker of exposure at the individual level, but not on a population or subgroup of subjects scale. Among the studied population, a widespread exposure was confirmed by the high frequency of OTA contamination in urine, although characterised by a low average contamination level. Independent of region or population, pork appears to be the main contributor to the daily OTA intake in Portugal. These data were clearly in contrast with previous studies showing that cereals and their derived products were the major contributors, while food of animal origin only contributed a small part to the total human dietary OTA exposure.


Author(s):  
Renata Kučerová ◽  
Zdeněk Pošvář

The paper is a particular contribution to study of changes in the business environment, which were induced by the Integration of the Czech Republic to the European Union. It includes the opportunities and threats of the Czech Republic and strengths and weaknesses of businesses, which managers of small and medium – sized enterprises identified in 2001 – it meant before the Integration and in 2004 – after the Integration of the Czech Republic into the European Union. 34% of managers from analyzed businesses identified this integration of the Czech Republic into the EU as an opportunity in 2001 and 77% of managers from analyzed businesses in 2004. A change can be seen in the focusing of managers towards the increase of business competitiveness in the different conditions in the internal environment.The paper is a part of solution of the research plan of the FBE MUAF in Brno, no. MSM 6215648904.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmytro S. Melnyk ◽  
Oleg A. Parfylo ◽  
Oleksii V. Butenko ◽  
Olena V. Tykhonova ◽  
Volodymyr O. Zarosylo

Purpose The experience of most European Union (EU) Member States has demonstrated effective anti-corruption practices, making the EU one of the leaders in this field, which can be used as an example to learn from in the field of anti-corruption. The purpose of this study is to analyze and identify the main features of anti-corruption legislation and strategies to prevent corruption at the national and supranational levels of the EU. Design/methodology/approach The following methods were used in the work: discourse and content analysis, method of system analysis, method of induction and deduction, historical-legal method, formal-legal method, comparative-legal method and others. Using the historical and legal method, the evolution of the formation of anti-corruption regulation at the supranational level was revealed. The comparative law method helped to compare the practices of the Member States of the EU in the field of anti-corruption regulation. The formal-legal method is used for generalization, classification and systematization of research results, as well as for the correct presentation of these results. Findings The main results, prospects for further research and the value of the material. The paper offers a critical review of key EU legal instruments on corruption, from the first initiatives taken in the mid-1990s to recent years. Originality/value In addition, the article analyzes the relevant anti-corruption legislation in the EU member states that are in the top 10 countries with the lowest level of corruption, namely: Denmark, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg.


2004 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 1-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Thomas ◽  
D. Rangnekar

Livestock production currently accounts for some 40% of the gross value of world agricultural production, and its share is rising (FAO, 2002). Livestock production is the largest user of agricultural land; directly through grazing of pastures and indirectly through the production of forage crops and other feeds. Over the next 20 years, there will be a massive increase in demand for food of animal origin in developing countries, and this increase will be greater than for either the major cereals or roots and tubers (IFPRI, 1995; Delgado et al., 1999).


Author(s):  
Ivo Zdráhal ◽  
Věra Bečvářová

The aim of the paper is to evaluate the development of the Czech foreign trade in milk and milk products and specify the typical features and consequences within its territorial and commodity structure using a specific system of indicators intended to show a relevant image on the topic. The analysis covers the period between 1999 and 2015 and are interpreted in the context of changes of the business environment that have occurred in the last two decades, particularly in relation to the Czech Republic’s entry into the European Union. Throughout the studied period, the Czech Republic revealed a positive balance of trade in milk and dairy products, as well as favourable values of TC index (value of coverage of import by export). The dynamics of the territorial structure of export and import is embodied in the overall trade dynamics between the Czech Republic and countries of EU-28. The Czech Republic’s entry into the EU common market, however, led to a change in the trading milk product structure. As a negative is regarded the fact that the structure of Czech export to the EU countries has changed and that is mainly concentrated on basic raw milk or dairy products of the first phase of processing with relatively low added value.


2008 ◽  
Vol 62 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 383-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasa Jankovic ◽  
Aurelija Spiric ◽  
Tatjana Radicevic ◽  
Srdjan Stefanovic

The objective of control and systematic monitoring of residue is to secure, by the examination of a corresponding number of samples, the efficient monitoring of the residue level in tissues and organs of animals, as well as in primary products of animal origin. This creates possibilities for the timely taking of measures toward the securing of food hygiene of animal origin and the protection of public health. Residue can be a consequence of the inadequate use of medicines in veterinary medicine and pesticides in agriculture and veterinary medicine, as well as the polluting of the environment with toxic elements, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, and others. Residue is being monitored in Serbia since 1972, and in 2004, national monitoring was brought to the level of EU countries through significant investments by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. This is also evident in the EU directives which permit exports of all kinds of meat and primary products of animal origin, covered by the Residue Monitoring Program. The program of systematic examinations of residue has been coordinated with the requirements of the European Union, both according to the type of examined substance, as well as according to the number of samples and the applied analytical techniques. In addition to the development of methods and the including of new harmful substances into the monitoring programme, it is also necessary to coordinate the national regulations that define the maximum permitted quantities of certain medicines and contaminants with the EU regulations, in order to protect the health of consumers as efficiently as possible, and for the country to take equal part in international trade.


Foods ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 204
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Kowalska ◽  
Louise Manning

Sesame seeds within the European Union (EU) are classified as foods not of animal origin. Two food safety issues associated with sesame seeds have emerged in recent years, i.e., Salmonella contamination and the presence of ethylene oxide. Fumigation with ethylene oxide to reduce Salmonella in seeds and spices is not approved in the EU, so its presence in sesame seeds from India was a sentinel incident sparking multiple trans-European product recalls between 2020–2021. Following an interpretivist approach, this study utilises academic and grey sources including data from the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) database to inform a critical appraisal of current EU foods not of animal origin legislation and associated governance structures and surveillance programs. This is of particular importance as consumers are encouraged towards plant-based diets. This study shows the importance of collaborative governance utilizing data from company testing and audits as well as official regulatory controls to define the depth and breadth of a given incident in Europe. The development of reflexive governance supported by the newest technology (e.g., blockchain) might be of value in public–private models of food safety governance. This study contributes to the literature on the adoption of risk-based food safety regulation and the associated hybrid public–private models of food safety governance where both regulators and private organizations play a vital role in assuring public health.


Politologija ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-51
Author(s):  
Lina Strupinskienė ◽  
Simona Vaškevičiūtė

This paper proposes to see Croatia’s becoming a member state of the European Union in 2013 as a particular critical juncture that created uncertainty over the type of decisions the government would take in the field of transitional justice once international pressure had stopped. It compares the period before and after the accession by looking into the three elements of transitional justice policy that were given priority by the EU conditionality framework – fighting impunity for war crimes, fostering reconciliation and respect for and protection of minority rights. It finds that all three have deteriorated in the post-accession period. On the one hand, the findings illustrate the power of international pressure, but on the other hand, they question the overall effectiveness of the conditionality policy, as it seems to not have affected deeper societal issues at stake and has not resulted in true transformation.


Author(s):  
Petr YAKOVLEV

The decision on Britain’s secession from the European Union, taken by the British Parliament and agreed by London and Brussels, divided the Union history into “before” and “after”. Not only will the remaining member states have to “digest” the political, commercial, economic and mental consequences of parting with one of the largest partners. They will also have to create a substantially new algorithm for the functioning of United Europe. On this path, the EU is confronted with many geopolitical and geo-economic challenges, which should be answered by the new leaders of the European Commission, European Council, and European Parliament.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (100) ◽  
pp. 108-115
Author(s):  
I. Berezovska

It is known that the food security of the state, aimed at providing the population with quality and healthy food, is an important component of economic security. Recent developments in the world and national security challenges posed by the Covid-19 virus pandemic necessitate a reassessment of approaches to the legal regulation of issues that significantly affect human health. Today, the reform of the relevant national legislation on FAR residues in food requires a systematic and holistic approach and the definition of its priorities in such a way as to promote food safety and the development of domestic business. The article is devoted to the analysis of the current Ukraine legislation concerning regulation of residues of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin. It was shown that the formation of such legislation was due to the development of international trade, including the fulfilment of the European Union requirements for the safety of foodstuffs imported into its market. At the same time, the conclusion of the Association Agreement and the introduction of a Free trade zone with the EU was a significant impetus to the reforming of national legislation on residues. The analysis of EU regulations, which serves as a legal basis for the residues control at the EU level, was carried out. It is noted that today in the Ukrainian legislation, despite the introduction of annual national plans for state monitoring of residues of veterinary medicinal products and contaminants in live animals and unprocessed foodstuffs of animal origin, there are a number of gaps that require urgent legislative regulation. It was proved that the completion of the reform of the national legislation on residues will contribute to improving safety of domestic foodstuffs, and therefore, will have important positive consequences not only for the development of trade with the EU, but primarily for the food security of Ukraine and the protection of the health of Ukrainian citizens.


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