It is 6.30am in December. Surrounded by a dense fog, Food Agency agents stand freezing in the Brielmeersen car park, behind the soccer stadium in Deinze. Today, the Deinze-Zulte-Lievegem police precinct, along with the Food Agency, is organising a road check with a focus on food and live animal transport. They have also invited the FPS Mobility. While the police check the papers of drivers and their vehicles and use breathalysers, the FPS Mobility checks that driving and rest periods are being respected. The Food Agency people verify that the transport of food or live animals is being done in the right conditions.
Our agents focus on physical and documentary verification of the origin of the products or animals and where they are going. This is to ensure the traceability of goods or animals – if a problem were to arise with a particular product or live animal, they must be able to intervene quickly. They also check that the transport area is being properly maintained and cared for and that the food is protected from potential contamination.
"Most of the violations we identify have to do with the storage temperatures of products that can spoil," says inspector Sylvie: "Either the products have to be kept sufficiently cold during transport. This is below seven degrees for most foods and below minus 18 degrees for frozen foods. Or they are being transported hot and must be kept at a temperature consistently above sixty degrees. This measure is very important to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria."
Our agents carefully check the temperature of the goods being transported and effectively, again today, two violations of this are identified. In a lorry, several bags of frozen vegetables are being stored alongside fruits and vegetables chilled at refrigerated temperatures. After inspector Dirk determines that the temperature of the frozen food is too high, he patiently and precisely explains to the driver why, unfortunately, he is forced to destroy the bags of frozen vegetables. The driver can understand this.
A little later, a new problem pops up. A caterer is stopped by police and asked to open his cargo box. In it are prepared products for a midday meal to where the caterer is heading. What particularly catches the attention of our agents are two bowls of peas and carrots left uncovered in the cargo box. That in itself is already a problem, but after checking the temperature (around 30 degrees), Dirk is left with no other option but to destroy the contents of these bowls as well. "Our job is to protect people's health. I can't be certain that these peas and carrots were kept at the wrong temperature for less than 20 minutes, so I have no choice but to intervene." Whether the caterer will be affected further by this remains unclear. "A lot will depend on whether any violations were identified with the caterer in the past. If not, he will probably get a warning this time."
Suddenly, a large lorry full of live animals drives into the car park. The car is accompanied by a police officer on a heavy motorcycle with blue flashing lights. Our agents head over to the lorry loaded with chickens. The driver, who is heading to the slaughterhouse, gets out in good spirits and hands our people a black folder full of documents. It is clear where the chickens come from and where they are going. The driver is able to present these documents effortlessly. But what does it turn out? The Flemish Government's Animal Welfare Service certificate has expired. "This does not fall under our jurisdiction," explains inspector Filip: "But we have to pass it on to the Flemish Government."
It's 10.30am. The fog has now lifted a bit and it is getting quieter and quieter in the car park. "We do observe that quite often," the chief inspector explains: "The drivers keep each other well-informed. By now, everyone will know that we're here." Still, the policemen and agents from the FASFC and FPS Mobility bravely keep going, despite the biting cold and frozen feet. By noon, the action will be lifted. Our people conducted a total of 35 inspections, with only two violations among them. "Good job!" they conclude, delighted that the vast majority of lorries and delivery vans are respecting the rules. They say goodbye to the police services and thank them for the smooth organisation. On to the next inspection.