The Tunisian National Health Safety Authority for Food Products has announced that it has carried out over 34,000 monitoring operations on public food establishments since the beginning of 2026. These operations included over 6,000 laboratory analyses to verify the conformity of food products on display with relevant specifications. The authority's efforts aim to ensure food safety and protect public health.
The monitoring operations resulted in the seizure and destruction of 1120 tons of unfit food products, as well as the issuance of 1347 judicial records against violators and 2070 written warnings. Additionally, 125 establishments that failed to meet basic food safety requirements were shut down. The authority's actions demonstrate its commitment to enforcing food safety regulations and preventing the sale of hazardous food products.
The authority also conducted 17,294 operations to measure residual chlorine in drinking water to verify the effectiveness of the disinfection process. Furthermore, 767 microbiological analyses and 434 physicochemical analyses were carried out to ensure the water meets health requirements. The authority also searched for heavy metals, lead, and radioactive materials to verify the conformity of water with health standards.
In terms of import control, the authority processed 1233 files related to the import of food products, allowing the import of over 50,000 tons and rejecting 134 tons of non-compliant products. The authority's import control measures help prevent the entry of substandard food products into the country.
The authority also carried out 13,193 monitoring operations on exports, covering 10,564 shipments and analyzing 2629 samples. As a result, 10,237 quality control certificates and 642 conformity certificates were issued, with 49 cases of rejection recorded during loading. The authority's export control measures ensure that Tunisian food products meet international standards.
The authority continued to develop its quality system in accordance with international standards ISO 9001, ISO 17020, and ISO 17025. This included implementing training programs in quality, integrity, and impartiality. The authority's quality system development efforts aim to enhance its effectiveness in ensuring food safety.
The Tunisian National Health Safety Authority for Food Products' efforts demonstrate its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring food safety in the country. The authority's actions have resulted in the seizure of large quantities of spoiled food and the shutdown of non-compliant establishments.
Key points
- The authority carried out over 34,000 monitoring operations on public food establishments.
- 1120 tons of unfit food products were seized and destroyed.
- 125 establishments were shut down for failing to meet basic food safety requirements.
