International operation against food fraud

Hungary has contributed to the success of the international operation against food fraud, called ‘OPSON VI’. Between December 2016 and March 2017 no less than 61 countries participated in the operation – Hungary was represented by the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) and the National Food Chain Safety Office (NÉBIH). Hungarian experts seized more than 47 tons of food and 107,000 litres of drinks. OPSON operations are coordinated by EUROPOL and INTERPOL, and the first raid was organised in 2011 with the participation of 10 countries. Dr Ferenc Helik, the head of NÉBIH’s Directorate of Priority Cases told: today food fraud is the second biggest business in the black market, after drugs. This represents great threat to the health of consumers.