Knockout fines for profiteers
The recent wave of horrifying reports about unsuitable food products making their way onto the local market is due merely to increasing profiteering at the expense of public health. It is, primarily, a result of intensified inspections by the responsible authorities. Some say the stricter and more regular controls are a public relations exercise by prefects who are responsible for the issue ahead of local elections in October. Although there is certainly some truth in that, criticism does not change the essence of the problem but merely underscores the vital need to disengage the system of food inspections from petty politicking. Only systematic monitoring can ensure that unfit food products will no longer reach the shelves of Greece’s food stores. Recent reports merely reveal the often unacceptable situation created by the longtime lack of strong controls. It is an open secret that unscrupulous businessmen have made huge fortunes by selling unsuitable food products. It is also well known that part of that money has been used to bribe state officials in order to avoid substantial checks by food watchdogs. So far, inspections have been sorely lacking for one additional reason. Antagonism between EFET, the Hellenic Food Authority which is part of the Development Ministry, and the Agriculture Ministry authorities that are controlled by the prefects has essentially hampered effective market monitoring. However, the best measure to crack down on the infiltration of bad food into the market would no doubt be an imposition of hefty fines on those who profiteer at the expense of public health. Bureaucracy-laden procedures lead some food companies to believe that even if they are levied with a fine, the cost will be covered by the illegal profits they reap. In other words, current legislation and the attitude of state officials actually encourage rather than hamper this dangerous profiteering. Wrongdoers will only change habits if they are faced with a knockout penalty.
