Montenegro and Poland report widespread regulatory fines and food safety violations

In Montenegro, intensive inspection efforts during the summer tourist season have resulted in over 6.8 million euros in fines. Minister Milutin Butorović reported that more than 11,000 inspections were conducted between July 2 and August 22, uncovering over 6,700 irregularities. The operations, involving approximately 110 inspectors, aimed to combat the grey economy, specifically targeting issues like improper fiscal receipt issuance and unauthorized operations. Specific enforcement actions included seizing approximately 100,000 euros worth of unbranded goods in Kotor and discovering 2 million euros worth of goods in three warehouses.

Additionally, targeted controls at Podgorica Airport resulted in 32 fines totaling 17,020 euros. These inspections focused on taxi services, rent-a-car providers, and border crossing compliance, with violations involving fiscal regulations, road transport, and metrology.

In Poland, the Inspectorate of Trade in Agricultural and Food Products (IJHARS) conducted widespread checks on confectionery and bakery products. Inspections of 80 entities revealed significant issues in over half of the surveyed locations. Findings included undeclared dyes such as E124 and E133, discrepancies in nutritional content (sugar and fat levels), and sensory irregularities regarding the texture, shape, and color of sweets.