Law no. 39 of 2017 concerning the Hygiene of Foods of Plant Origin at the Stage of Primary Production.

This Law, consisting of 18 articles, in compliance with terms and provisions of Regulation (EC) no. 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food hygiene, applies to the stage of primary production of food of plant origin intended for human consumption. The Law defines the following relevant terms: competent authority; establishment, as any plant food business unit; code of good hygienic practice; register; food of plant origin; producer of food of plant origin. Matters covered by this Law concern: prohibition on the sale of food of plant origin incompatible with the provisions of national and European legislation; designation of the department of agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, as the competent authority; record keeping, including: the place of production, harvesting, sorting, packaging and storage of the food of plant origin; powers and duties of the authority, including: preparation of a multi-year control plan based on a risk analysis for the hygiene of food of plant origin; definition and powers of inspectors, including: taking samples; control of books and documents; control of compliance with good hygiene practices, which confirm the safety of food of plant origin at the stage of primary production; monitoring and implementation of measures determined by the competent authority; obligations of plant-based food producers, including: application of good hygiene practices or other procedures, cooperation with inspectors; corrective actions in order to preserve the health of the consumers; imposition of administrative sanctions; offences and penalties; power to issue regulations and ordinances.