05 October 2026
An intensified surveillance campaign by the State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic has uncovered significant Salmonella contamination in imported poultry meat, with the pathogen detected in nearly one out of every four samples tested.
The enhanced inspection campaign, underway since late July, has focused specifically on shipments arriving from foreign suppliers, including other European Union member states. Of the 93 imported poultry meat samples tested, 23 were positive for Salmonella, corresponding to a non-compliance rate of 24.7%.
According to veterinary authorities, the findings are consistent with multi-year surveillance trends. Historical monitoring data from 2023 to 2025 show that imported poultry meat had an average Salmonella contamination rate of 21%, approximately three times higher than the 7% average detected in domestic Czech poultry production.
In response to the positive findings, the SVS submitted formal notifications through the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and initiated traceability investigations for each affected lot. For shipments still held in storage prior to distribution, authorities imposed immediate restrictions preventing them from entering the commercial market.
