AHV extends inspections at Skopje markets after over five tons of unsafe food seized

The Agency for Food and Veterinary (AHV) announced it will continue intensified, extraordinary inspections at open-air markets in Skopje aimed at curbing illegal trade in fruit and vegetables and stopping sales of food in unsafe conditions.

AHV: “suppression of illegal trade…”

“suzbivanje na nelegalnata trgovija so ovošje i zelenčuk i prodazhbata na hrana vo nesoodvetni uslovi, bez poteklo, najčešsto od preprodavači koi trgavaat nadvor od organiziranite pazarnik prostor” — the agency said in a statement outlining the purpose of the operation.

AHV reported that last week, during actions at Skopje’s Green Market and at the market in the Gjorche Petrov neighbourhood, authorities seized and destroyed more than five tons of unsafe food. The agency said the items were mainly fruit and vegetables illegally sold outside the organized market areas.

The inspections are being carried out jointly with the communal inspection of the City of Skopje, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Market Inspectorate. AHV said the joint effort aims to prevent illegal trading and to secure lawful conditions for food sales.

AHV also noted that such illegal activity not only endangers consumers’ health but also distorts market competition to the detriment of primary farmers and licensed traders, and that the intensified controls will continue until those practices are curtailed.

Photo: press material from the event