11 September 2009 - Czech Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority in cooperation with the Customs Office in Liberec succeeded in revealing a consignment of tea originating in China which contained plants banned for foodstuffs.
At control two tea blends were seized by CAFIA inspectors that were declared to contain the forbidden plants. More precisely, following products were concerned: the blend of black tea and herbs containing leaves of Cassia angustifolia and blend intended for decreasing blood pressure containing the herb Apocynum spp. In both cases plants with pharmacological effect are concerned; they are included in the list of plants forbidden for foodstuff production.
From the above mentioned reasons CAFIA released a binding position not to release this consignment into circulation. Therefore, the consumers are not endangered. The importer can return the consignment to his supplier or destroy it.
Other EU Member States were informed about this case by means of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).