The European Commission’s latest report highlights the importance of official controls in enforcing EU regulations on food and feed laws, animal health and welfare, and plant health.
In 2022, national authorities conducted nearly 5 million official controls across 16.4 million businesses, identifying 1.2 million non-compliance cases. This led to hundreds of thousands of penalties and legal actions, ensuring that business adhered to EU standards.
Despite challenges such as post-pandemic recovery, resource shortages, and global disruptions like Brexit and the Ukraine war, the report confirms that national authorities have robust systems in place to monitor and address non-compliance. This provides a high level of health protection and maintains trust in the EU food chain—from farm to fork.
While some countries reported a return to normal control levels post-COVID, others still faced setbacks. The challenges of African swine fever and avian influenza also added pressure.
At the heart of these efforts is the goal to ensure that EU consumers can confidently rely on the safety and quality of the food they consume.
You can read the full report here.
