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Experts from South Korea are conducting audit of milk establishments

2019 m. November 14 d.

On 12–21 November, audit is being conducted at the State Food and Veterinary Service (SFVS) by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea, which is aimed at the assessment if milk processing establishments, which already export their production to this country, duly implement requirements. Audit like this is an important step in consolidating possibilities to export Lithuanian milk products to this county in Asia. Yesterday, at the SFVS, the foreign experts were presented the official food and veterinary control carried out in the milk sector of our country, applicable requirements and control standards. “To ensure the approval of Lithuanian establishments and permission for them to export their production to this extensive market of Asia, which has high payment capacity, substantial endeavours and efforts are required. This is for a few years already, that close relations with colleagues from South Korea have been maintained, sound foundations for the cooperation with competent veterinary authorities of this country have been laid. Their specialists have been recently learning in our country how to tackle African swine fever (ASF), which is spreading in Asia and has been for the first time identified in South Korea this year. Currently, possibilities to export Lithuanian poultry meat and its products are intensively discussed”,–commented Director of the SFVS Darius Remeika. At the time of audit, the specialists from South Korea will visit the establishments of AB “Pieno žvaigždės“: “Pasvalio sūrinė“, “Kauno pienas“ and „Mažeikių pieninė“. The experts will also observe the production processes at AB “Rokiškio sūris“ in Rokiškis, AB “Modest“ in Tauragė and UAB “Rokiškio pieno gamyba“ in Utena where they are going to assess the functioning of the food safety and control system practically. Milk and fishery products and pet food are already exported by Lithuanian producers to South Korea. Over 840 t of milk products (mostly cheeses, butter, curds, ice cream, etc.), nearly 22 t of fish and fishery products as well as perfood for dogs and cats (404 t) were exported to South Korea in 10 months this year.

As from 1-st November, the amounts of trans fats in foodstuffs will be restricted

2019 m. November 14 d.

The State Food and Veterinary Service (SFVS) reminds that as form 1-st November this year requirements for the levels of trans fatty acid isomers in foodstuffs come into force. Lithuania is one of the few countries in the EU, which will implement a restriction on trans fats in foodstuffs. The restriction adopted by Order No V-1202 of the Minister for Health of 23 October 2017 will apply for all foodstuffs placed on the market of Lithuania. It has been established that the level of trans fats unfavourable for human health in any foodstuffs – both produced in Lithuania and imported, available on retail and at catering establishments, must not exceed 2 g/100 g of the overall amount of fats. It has been proved by researchers that in the cases where the percentage of the energy intake in the form of trans fats exceeds 2 percent of the daily dietary energy intake the mortality rate from heart diseases increases by 20–30 per cent. Trans fats are the worst edible fats, they have no value for human body at all. The levels of trans fatty acid isomers specified in the above Order do not apply for foodstuffs where they occur naturally. Trans fatty acid isomers naturally occur in fats of ruminant animals (cows, goats, sheep) and in products therefrom. Higher levels of trans fats are allowed for low-fat foodstuffs where the overall amount of fats does not exceed 3 g/100 g. The restrictions are related to artificial (industrial) trans fats, which are produced in the process of partial hydrogenation of liquid fats. Partially hydrogenated fats, which are the key source of industrial trans fats, are used in the food industry because of their good technological properties (suitable texture, longer durability date, etc.) and sensory qualities, an attractive price. They are particularly used in pastry and bakery products, different glazes, fillings, fast food, margarine, etc. The use of partially hydrogenated fats in the food industry is not prohibited, however, they must be manufactured in such a way that the occurrence of trans fats hazardous to human health in amounts exceeding the allowed limits is precluded. “A decision on the regulation of trans fatty acid isomers was taken with consideration of the risk for human health, which is posed by their use, and of extensive use of these fats in the food industry. One has to remember that partially hydrogenated fats are normally present in the composition of foodstuffs, which are not referred to as basic ones (sweets, pastry, bakery products, fast food, etc.). Therefore, food manufacturers will have to replace fats, which are not useful in terms of health, by more healthy ones. We believe that, in the past two years, food industry businesses have had enough time to adjust their technological processes and formulations to ensure that the marketable appearance and taste of their products does not suffer as a result of the replacement of fats”,– commented Ilona Drulytė, Head of the Food Division of the SFVS.

Food safety specialists are joining forces in the fight against the outbreaks of food poisoning

2019 m. October 16 d.

Food safety and quality as well as the assurance of all necessary conditions are one of the top priorities for Lithuania and the European Union countries. As a result, scientists, public health, food safety and veterinary specialists are working together to prevent foodborne outbreaks and are looking for cutting-edge ways and solutions to manage food crises. Lithuanian and foreign experts had the opportunity to share their experience, discuss the measures taken and the latest research results during the international conference at the beginning of October, in Vilnius. The main message of the conference participants, addressed to specialists in various fields, experts from national and international organizations and business representatives, has become a call for a closer cooperation in the development of preventive action plans and sharing of emerging crises data; coordination of laboratory and inter-institutional research activities; greater use of early warning systems in the European Union for the reporting of communicable disease outbreaks or food crises. The importance of coordinating food safety and the activities of public health specialists involved in the same incident was highlighted, giving the access to medical information on the cases of human illnesses for food safety authorities. At the conference, the insights on risk assessment for food crises were shared by Dr. Valentina Rizzi, Senior Scientific Officer, Unit on Biological Hazards and Contaminants (BIOCONTAM), EFSA. Mr. Martial Plantady, the representative of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, presented the General Plan for Food and Feed Safety Crisis Management and its challenges. The information on the latest research in pathogen diagnostics was shared by Prof. Dr. Rene S. Hendriksen from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). The Latvian experience in investigating the outbreaks of foodborne diseases was also analysed. The most common causative agents, the main causes of outbreaks and methods of laboratory testing for food safety used by the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute in Lithuania, the possibilities to control food safety were discussed. Good practices applied in Lithuanian business to prevent communicable diseases and other important issues were presented. "The insights and discussions provided by the experts only confirm that effective prevention of foodborne diseases and efficient management of emerging food crises require the participation of all responsible parties – food industry representatives, farmers, competent food and veterinary control bodies, consumer institutions, public health policy makers – involvement at national and international levels, focused efforts to find new and innovative solutions”, – emphasised Darius Remeika, the Director of the State Food and Veterinary Service, at the conference. You can find the conference presentations here: EU mechanisms for crisis management and preparedness in the field of the safety of food and feed | Mr. Martial Plantady Surveillance of infectious foodborne diseases in the EU | Dr. Johanna Takkinen, Dr. Therese Westrell Assessment of multi-country foodborne outbreaks at EU level | Dr. Valentina Rizzi Whole genome sequencing: a new challenge in the diagnostics of pathogenic agents | Prof. Dr. Rene S. Hendriksen Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS): experience in foodborne outbreak investigations in Latvia | Prof. Dr. Aivars Bērziņš Laboratory analysis methods for food safety at the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute (NFVRAI) | Ms. Snieguolė Ščeponavičienė Intersectorial cooperation during epidemiological investigation of foodborne diseases | Ms. Ginreta Valinčiūtė Good practice at UAB “Delano” as regards preventive measures for ensuring food safety | Ms. Akvilė Lekavičiūtė Good practice at Biovela Group as regards preventive measures for ensuring food safety | Ms. Žaneta Pisarskienė

The conference on “Food safety is the key priority. Management of outbreaks of foodborne diseases” was held in Vilnius

2019 m. October 03 d.

On 3 October 2019, the international conference on “Food safety is the key priority. Management of outbreaks of foodborne diseases” took place in Vilnius (“Holiday Inn Vilnius“, Šeimyniškių Str. 1). The conference, organised by the State Food and Veterinary Service (SFVS) together with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), was attended by the representatives of the European Commission, European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), EFSA Biological Hazards and Contaminants Unit, Danish Technical University, Latvian Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”, Lithuanian National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute and National Public Health Center under the Ministry of Health, as well as representatives of food processing companies in our country. The experts attending the conference introduced the European Union (EU) crisis management and preparedness mechanisms for food and feed safety, reviewed the situation of foodborne communicable diseases in Europe, presented the evaluation of disease outbreaks in several EU Member States and new challenges in the diagnostics of pathogens. During the event, the specialists shared the Latvian experience in investigating the outbreaks of foodborne diseases, discussed the laboratory research methods for food safety applied at the Lithuanian National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute. The participants of the conference also listened to the presentations on the importance of inter-institutional and inter-sectoral cooperation and good practices of Lithuanian business in order to prevent communicable diseases. This international conference is one of the annual events organised by the SFVS and EFSA, dedicated to food quality and safety in the field of risk assessment. It is intended for the professionals, working in the field mentioned above, who are seeking further progress and good results, looking for possible and practical solutions to prevent foodborne diseases.

Japanese delegation was interested in the CSF and ASF situation in Lithuania

2019 m. September 26 d.

A Japanese delegation from the Gifu prefecture is visiting the State Food and Veterinary Service (SFVS). The objective of the visit of the experts and scientists headed by Prof. Tetsu Asai, Dean of the Applied Veterinary Science Department of Gifu University, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences is to get better understanding of the situation of classical swine fever (CSF) and African swine fever (ASF) in Lithuania, examination, control and prevention methods applied for those diseases. Director Darius Remeika, who has welcomed the visitors, expressed his satisfaction about the close cooperation between Japan and Lithuania, he thanked for the successful opening of the export market in Japan. He also presented the food safety and veterinary control system in Lithuania whereas Dr. Alvydas Malakauskas, Head of the ASF Competence Centre presented the Centre headed by him. Dr. Vidmantas Paulauskas, Deputy Director of the SFVS and Martins Serzants, Senior Expert of the Animal Infectious Disease Supervision Unit of the Food and Veterinary Service of the Republic of Latvia were the main speakers at the meeting who presented the topic of interest for the visitors from Japan – the CSF situation in Lithuania and Latvia. However, no CSF outbreaks have been recorded in our country in the past years, therefore, the speakers focussed on ASF problems, which are currently of the utmost relevance. Specialists of the SFVS talked about the care for domestic pigs, ASF prevention and control measures, they provided practical examples about the course of eradication of an ASF outbreak, compensation measures for farmers, which suffered loss from ASF, etc. for each animal species and commodity for each animal species and commodity The visitors have also visited the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute where they were introduced to the diagnostic equipment, diagnostic laboratory methods, which are used for the detection of CSF and ASF, risk assessment for the spread of the disease. “The ASF situation in Asia is very tense, new outbreaks of the disease are recorded closer and closer to Japan, therefore, the delegation of scientists and experts has come to get working knowledge of the expertise available in Lithuania, measures of surveillance, prevention and tackling ASF. It is not by chance that our country was chosen. Already since 2013, strengthened ASF surveillance has been carried out in the wild boar and domestic pig populations in Lithuania. The expertise and knowledge of our specialists are widely appreciated both in Europe and countries of Asia. We have been cooperating with colleagues from Japan for several years. The experts from Japan seek acquiring more practical knowledge of CSF and ASF. We hope that they will find our experience useful. Maybe our joint efforts will help us find the best solution and protection measures against this disease“, – said Director of the SFVS D. Remeika after the meeting.

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2015 y. March 06 d.

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State food and veterinary service
State budgetary institution The Register of Legal Entities
code: 188601279

Address: Siesikų str. 19,
07170 Vilnius Lithuania
Tel. +370 5 240 4361
E-mail: info@vmvt.lt

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Designated points of import (DPI) through which the feed or food referred to in Commision Regulations (EC) No. 669/2009, Nr. 884/2014, Nr. 885/2014, Nr. 2015/175, Nr. 2011/884, Nr. 322/2014, 2015/949, Nr. 1635/2006, Nr. 284/2011 may be imported into the European Union (the document in the Lithuanian/ English language. Latest version of 06-08-2015) have been established.

Register of Veterinary Approved Animal Food Handling Entities

List of ABP Objects and Entities subject to veterinary supervision

LIST OF FREE WAREHOUSES, CUSTOMS WAREHOUSES, WAREHOUSES FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE (IMPORT AND EXPORT TERMINALS) OF ANIMAL ORIGIN PRODUCTS IN TRANSIT WHICH DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF EU

COMMISSION DECISION of 30 April 2008 implementing Council Directive 2006/88/EC as regards an Internet-based information page to make information on aquaculture production businesses and authorised processing establishments available by electronic means

Approved and registered establishments under veterinary supervision

List of aquaculture establishments (Directive 2006/88/EC and Regulation (EC) No 708/2007)

LIST OF ANIMAL FOOD BUSINESS OPERATORS APPROVED BY ARTICLE 12 OF COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION 2014/709/EU

List of establishments approved in accordance with Section A of Chapter V of Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001

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