Operations at a company in Lithuania have been suspended after food agency inspectors were denied entry to the premises during an inspection. The State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) reported that in August, when inspectors went to fish producer Almantika UAB, company officials would not let inspectors access the site. Police officers were called by VMVT employees and they urged the producer to allow the planned official controls to be carried out, but company representatives still refused.
The VMVT reported that company officials said they should have been informed about the inspection. The EU Official Control Regulation requires member states to carry out regular, unannounced risk-based official controls to detect fraudulent or deceptive practices. Food agency reaction As VMVT staff could not assess the conditions of the ongoing activity, a decision was taken to stop the company’s operations.
Similar cases have been recorded in other businesses before, leading to legal proceedings. Paulius Bušauskas, deputy director of VMVT, said it was important firms cooperated with the control authority so food safety and animal welfare can be ensured. “If company representatives have questions about how we work, we are ready to explain and advise.
However, disclosing to the entity about the planned inspection...
is prohibited by the legislation of the European Union, on the basis of which we perform official controls. Only very specific and narrow exceptions are possible,” he.
