The fundamental role of these laboratories in the prevention of fraud in food and industrial products commonly used by citizens, the verification of product safety and the verification of mandatory information that goods must have available to consumers.
Minister Carcedo explained that the Center for Research and Quality Control analyzes daily samples sent from various organizations such as the Inspection Services of the Autonomous Communities, the Municipal Consumer Information Offices (OMIC) of the municipalities, the Arbitration Boards, the courts and other organisms of the Administration like the Official Service of Inspection, Surveillance and Regulation of the Exports (SOIVRE).
The Center plays a fundamental role of control and collaboration with the competent authorities for market surveillance with the objective that the necessary measures can be taken.
Specifically, in the year 2019, 3,290 samples were analyzed: 1,977 of industrial products and 1,313 of food. Regardless of the type of product, labeling and presentation irregularities have been the most frequent.
These samples come mostly from national, regional or official controls campaigns thanks to which possible breaches of labeling, quality, safety, etc. have been detected.
Thus, the 20 analytical units that make up the aforementioned CICC are responsible for verifying the labeling, verifying that the composition responds to what the label describes, instructions for use, warnings and risks to the safety of consumers and users, effective content, etc. . Also, they verify the suitability that the product has to its use and the detection of adulterations or frauds. In addition, it has been studied whether they respond to current legislation.
In 2019, 49.2% of the food products analyzed have complied with the regulations that regulate them while 39.5% do not. For its part, 49.1% of industrial products comply with the applicable standards and 47.9% have some type of default.
Of all the products analyzed in 2019, a total of 43,425 determinations or analyzes have been carried out. The result is that the highest number of defaults is related to the information to be offered to consumers through labeling, which represents 10.1% of the anomalies.
The aspects related to safety have accounted for 8.4% of the determinations carried out in the products analyzed and 3.6% are linked to breaches of the aspects linked to quality factors.
Toys, food products and oils
The CICC has a Childcare and Toys Unit that studies the presence of toxic substances, sharp edges, flammability of the materials, presence of small parts that can be ingested with the risk of suffocation, among other aspects.
In addition, it has a Bioanalysis Unit responsible for the identification and detection of species through DNA-based techniques. This gives support to the Unit of Products of animal origin and to the Unit of Dietetics, Prepared and Preserved by means of identification of species in fishery products, shellfish or meat products.
The Oil Tasting Panel Unit for its part carries out the organoleptic analyzes of the samples of extra virgin and virgin olive oils, in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation EC 2568/1991.