Czechs want Polish food exports ban

“We want such an option to be possible in the eventuality that public safety is under threat,” Minister Petr Bendl said in an interview on Czech television on Sunday.

At present, Prague would face sanctions if it enforced a ban.

The call for a export ban follows revelations in late February that industrial salt had been used in Polish food products.

Polish public prosecutors have charged five men in connection with selling industrial salt to factories.

However, state and health authorities have tried to play down the affair.

“The salt would only pose a threat to our health in the case of a large intake,” said Malgorzata Stodolniak, from Poland's Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (Sanepid), in an interview with the Gazeta Wyborcza daily last month.

However, Czech Minister Petr Bendl complains that since early March, Polish authorities have failed to hand over a list of companies affected by the industrial salt affair.

Poland's agricultural minister has responded that it is not empowered to divulge such information.

“The decision lies solely with the prosecution,” the Ministry has affirmed. (nh/pg)