Stricter measures against health-damaging foods

The modern trade and food distribution system is becoming increasingly complex, and to ensure safe food supply, it is crucial that proper control systems are in place. Authorities such as the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) and the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) are continuously working to filter out abuses and minimize health risks. The introduction of the electronic road freight control system (ekáer) also serves this purpose, especially concerning food products, which are subject to stricter regulations.

These measures not only assist the authorities in their work but also guarantee consumer safety. One of the biggest challenges in the food industry is the distribution of counterfeit and improperly stored products. The new regulations aim to allow for closer monitoring of shipments of risky food items, thereby reducing potential health risks.

The introduction of stricter regulations is therefore essential for ensuring a safe food supply, as consumer health is the top priority. The application of new systems and regulations is likely to contribute to increased market fairness and strengthened consumer trust.

Risky Foods and New Regulations

According to the latest regulations, special attention is given to risky foods, particularly those weighing over 200 kilograms and having a tax-exempt value exceeding 250,000 forints. For these shipments, it is mandatory to apply for an ekáer number, regardless of the vehicle used for transportation. The aim of these measures is to allow authorities to better monitor the circulation of food products, thereby reducing the possibility of abuses.

Risky foods include fresh, chilled, or frozen meats, meat products, fish, milk, dairy products, eggs, honey, vegetables, fruits, and various ingredients such as coffee, pepper, paprika, rice, buckwheat, flour, sugar, oil, and margarine. These products deserve special attention as they can easily spoil during improper storage or transportation, thus endangering consumer health.

Furthermore, Nébih requires food businesses to report the first storage location in Hungary and the company operating it. For risky foods, a risk guarantee must also be paid starting from February 1st, providing additional assurance for the safe handling of products.

The Role of NAV and Inspections

NAV’s role in the inspection of risky foods is significant. The tax authority regularly conducts checks on the circulation of food products, and in several cases, it has successfully prevented health-threatening products from reaching store shelves. For instance, during joint inspections, NAV has discovered instances where Polish products were marketed as Hungarian goods, or found spoiled eggs transported in a non-refrigerated truck.

Due to VAT fraud related to food industry products, NAV’s financial investigators have already initiated numerous investigations. During these investigations, significant amounts, nearly 86 billion forints, were embezzled by the perpetrators. The authority continuously works to uncover abuses, aiming to make the market cleaner and safer.

The cooperation between NAV and Nébih is also an important factor in conducting effective inspections. For products under the jurisdiction of the food chain supervisory authority, the ekáer system only accounts for shipments from clients with a food chain supervisory information system identifier, thus ensuring proper traceability.

To maintain the safety of the food market, official inspections are continuously expanding and evolving, enabling more effective tools to combat abuses in the future.