National food safety agency sanctions over 40 educational institutions in Moldova

Chisinau, 08 August /MOLDPRES/ – Over 40 official reports, with fines of almost MDL 55,000, prepared the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) in the first semester of 2019 as a result of checks in food blocks of the general education institutions in Moldova. Also, the inspectors issued over 300 prescriptions, necessary to remove the shortcomings found, has said the ANSA leadership in a press conference, on Thursday, 08 August.

The deputy General Director of institution, Ion Toma, has explained that the specialists from the ANSA subdivisions have a national plan approved at the beginning of 2019, which provides for a certain number of controls. According to the person in charge, as a rule, every canteen in school or kindergarten of Moldova is checked about twice a year. "However, in case of necessity, periodically, ANSA reviews and issues the necessary provisions for some institutions, especially the ones where irregularities have been detected previously, as to be further monitored," said Ion Toma.

The source mentioned that in recent 03 years, due to an efficient cooperation with educational institutions, local authorities, "there is a positive dynamic in the country in terms of technical equipment, current repair, regulation of public procurement process etc. in the feeding units in schools and kindergartens".

In this regard, the deputy Director of ANSA has mentioned that in kindergarten №177 in Chisinau, recently reached the media spotlight following the signals received from the Presidency of Moldova regarding the delivery of a batch of bad products, the regulatory controls did not show any irregularities on it. Ion Toma said that on Wednesday, 07 August, there were taken the necessary evidence in this institution and it will be followed the whole process of acquisition, delivery, storage, etc. of food from the beginning of 2019. “It will be carried out an investigation and after we have the results of all investigations, we shall be able to decide on it. For the moment, it is premature to make any conclusions”, said official of ANSA.

The management of ANSA has reiterated that in case of detection of non – compliant products in public canteens for children, the responsibility is borne both by supplier economic agent and administration of educational institution. "We urge the management of schools and kindergartens to manifest responsibility and announce ANSA structures when they find products inadmissible for use in food, so as not to endanger the health condition, even the lives of children," concluded acting General Director of ANSA, Ela Malai.

At present, there are 2,582 food blocks in Moldova, located in pre – school and school institutions.