Bezpečnost doplňků stravy na trhu EU se zaměřením na kontaminanty

This bachelor thesis examines the safety of dietary supplements on the EU market during the period 2018–2023, focusing on three selected contaminants: pesticides, heavy metals, and mycotoxins. Furthermore, it focuses on two specific importers of supplements into the EU: the USA and China. The main objective is to assess whether products imported from third countries represent a higher risk of contamination than products produced within the EU market and whether food business operators are motivated to comply with the established standards. Within the three investigated areas, the thesis explores the legislative framework for food safety, regulation of dietary supplements, maximum levels of their contamination, the risks of the contaminants themselves, and the influence of agricultural practices and environmental degradation on the quality of the products. The practical part is based on an analysis of data from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the inspection activities of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (SZPI), and a structured expert interview with a food business operator. The analysis outputs showed different results regarding the hypothesis of higher risk associated with imports from third countries. The RASFF analysis did not confirm the hypothesis due to a high risk score for the EU per notification, primarily caused by the ethylene oxide residue crisis and effective filtration of reports by member states. Conversely, the SZPI analysis and the expert interview supported the hypothesis by revealing a higher risk for imports from China. In conclusion, the thesis states that the safety of dietary supplements in the EU is ensured primarily through strict monitoring and effective controls done by member states, which have a deterrent effect on operators and motivate them to adhere to established standards.