During 2008, the Czech Trade Inspectorate (further the CTI only) applied certain measures in order to ensure the quality of inspection services, as well as quality of follow-up inspections and follow-up investigation processes relevant to the inspected persons.
“During 2008, the Czech Trade Inspectorate applied certain measures in order to ensure the quality of inspection services, as well as quality of follow-up inspections and follow-up investigation process relevant to the inspected persons,” said RNDr. Jana Příhodová.
Comparing the numbers of the performed inspections during 2008 with the last year 2007 or 2006, it is clear that during 2008 the number of performed inspections went down (the total number of performed inspections was 42990). The reason is that the actual and performed inspections were more thorough and demanding, mainly thanks to the received notifications containing serious suspicions and pointing out towards violations and also thanks to the fact that the CTI inspectors inspected more of so-called large business entities.
Also, during 2008, inner inspection control and evaluation of inspection activities performed by the CTI became more strict. One of the new aspects of the new inner control, is maximum effort to eliminate so-called double inspections during several visits (inspection shall be completed during one visit) at one person or entity etc.
By applying the above-mentioned improvements, the CTI tried to provide the most optimized activities, as well as following presentations. The goal of the inspection was to improve the quality and to focus on the consistency of the performed inspections, while taking into consideration the overall decrease in the total number of inspections.
Following these goals, the total number of inspections went down by about 19 % during the year of 2008, when the CTI issued fines and penalties in the total amount of CZK 45 213 600,-, whereas during the year of 2007, the CTI only issued fines in the amount of CZK 26 370 000,-.
The efficiency of the CTI work may also be represented by the total number of taken samples. In 2008, the CTI collected 234 samples, whereas in 2007, only 146 sample products were taken. From the total number of taken samples, about 60 % failed tests (were banned from sale) in the 2008 and about 38% of the collected samples failed in 2007.
An inseparable part of the CTI activities is consumer claim processing. In 2008 the number of claims reached the total number of 15173 claims, which represents an increase by 24,4 % more than in 2007. At the same time, advisory services provided to consumers at the individual CTI offices became more intensive.
Also quality of technical inspections improved, as specialized group of inspectors was established, in order to supervise this section of the CTI activities.
The CTI is also represented and involved in international EU committees. Within the framework of these work committees, CTI applied to participative in six inspection events in the EU, which happened throughout the year 2008. This is an increase, when compared with 2007, when CTI participated in one inspection event only.