Experience of business community on how to detect and stop market distribution of juices not conforming to legal requirements

Abstract

have been examining quality of juices that are sold on the Russian market. The basic goal here is to prevent manufacture and distribution of products that don't conform to legal requirements; to build up and maintain trust of consumers into juice products manufactured in the country; to create better conditions for fair competition. Since then, a control system has been built; is covers most juice manufacturers that work on the Russian market, procedures for research and results processing have been worked out and tested, and there is tight interaction between manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers, and state authorities responsible for control (surveillance). Quality monitoring system (QMS) is a structure created by the Russian Union of Juice Producers for accomplishing quality monitoring. QMS of the RUJP is similar to European systems for control over juices quality, such as EQCS (European Quality Control System for Juice and Nectars for Fruit and Vegetables), and SGF (Sure-Global-Fair). Annually the RUJP experts plan examinations (tests) of juices and decide on types of products that should be examined, a number of samples to be examined, and sampling criteria. Products to be examined are usually bought in retail outlets and they can be either manufactured by companies that are RUJP members or by side organizations. Products are purchased taking into account risk criteria worked out by the RUJP. There is an Expert Council that operates within the RUJP; its basic functions are to draw up examinations (tests) programs as per quality and safety criteria, assessment of marking and organoleptic properties of a product, as well as results of physical and chemical research. If any examination reveal a product that doesn't conform to legal requirements, the RUJP take action to stop its manufacturing and distribution on the market.