The need to consolidate the food safety system in Poland

Abstract

Consumers’ awareness and demands on food safety and health protection constantly grow. Consequently, the aim of the official food control system should be to provide consumers with safe food of the highest quality. Nowadays six different inspections in different scope supervise external control on food safety in Poland. This structure is criticized for overlapping the competencies of individual institutions and the crossing of controls, which also constitutes an inconvenience for food producers. There is a need for changes in this field. In July 2016 work on the Draft Law on the State Inspection of Food Safety was commenced, which is supposed to result in the consolidation of the control and monitoring processes of the existing bodies. State Inspection of Food Safety would start operating from the beginning of 2018. The article discusses the assumptions of this project, underlines the need for a unified, integrated system of food safety and quality control, especially since such changes have already occurred in almost all EU Member States. The tasks of the planned central unit and the controversies surrounding it were presented. Their careful analysis and resolution of ambiguity is intended to refine the project. Planned changes will certainly help to focus full-on-field supervision in the context of one unit’s tasks, thereby avoiding competing disputes. It will also be important to strengthen the district level of inspection, which will facilitate the planning of inspection activities.