A significant operation is underway to monitor and verify the hygiene and food safety conditions of food goods, including olive oil, meats, fish, and bakery products.
According to Luís Lourenço, the inspector-general of the Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE), who is overseeing the operation on the 25th of April Bridge in Lisbon, around 300 vehicles have been inspected by 08:00 in an operation involving approximately 170 inspectors.
“This operation is targeted at the transportation of goods under ASAE’s oversight. It started yesterday [Wednesday] at 20:00 on the Portuguese borders with Spain and continues throughout today, concluding around 20:00,” he stated.
Luís Lourenço explained that the operation is taking place in around 50 locations across the country and aims to control and verify the hygiene and food safety conditions of food goods such as olive oil, meats, fish, and bakery products.
“It also aims to detect possible illegal activities related to goods in transit, such as counterfeiting, which have direct consequences for the end consumer,” he noted.
As of 08:00, no seizures or fines have been registered, according to Luís Lourenço.
“Fortunately, there are no incidents to report concerning fines and seizures at this time, which is a good sign regarding our economic operators’ compliance and the effectiveness of the ongoing preventive work,” he stated.
The inspector-general of the ASAE also mentioned that the operation is being carried out in collaboration with the National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Public Security Police (PSP).
