From the beginning of March until Maundy Thursday, April 9, the Region of Attica conducted 5.746 market and health controls, with the authorized officials to proceed, among other things, to the seizure of 11 tons of unsuitable meat and the imposition of fines totaling 244,770 euros. For the same period last year, 4,236 checks were carried out, 4.2 tonnes of unsuitable products were seized and fines of €157,000 were imposed.
As stated by Nikos Chardalias, Governor of Attica: “The protection of public health and the consumer is a non-negotiable priority for the Region of Attica. The results of the controls confirm that we are moving with plan, consistency and determination, intensifying our presence in the market at a particularly critical period, with product prices being directly affected by the current international situation.
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We have strengthened our control mechanisms, using every available means and all of our human resources to ensure that the products that reach the Easter table are of high quality and safe. At the same time, we support healthy businesses that operate with transparency and respect for legality.
My message is clear: zero tolerance for fraud and obscenity – no exceptions.
The inspections will continue at the same intensity throughout the holiday season. We are not taking a step back. Adherence to the law is our basic obligation to our citizens.
No one is above the law.
Those who choose to operate outside the rules will find us against them – with no tolerance and no second chances.”
Increased inspections – Seizures of unfit meat tripled
The image resulting from 5.746 checks that have already been carried out, but also from the amount of fines imposed, confirms, according to a statement, the choice of the Region of Attica to tighten and intensify controls at all levels of the market. In particular:
* Sustainable Development Division staff checked 2.498 businesses, imposing fines totalling €244,770.
In indicatively, of these checks, 943 involved vendors in closed markets, markets and bazaars, 323 involved grocery stores, greengrocers and butchers, 302 involved catering establishments and 207 involved bakeries – confectioners. Fuel quality checks were also carried out at 29 petrol stations and 415 scales were checked.
As an indication of the distribution of fines, 64.300 are for petrol and energy stations, 53,050 for supermarkets, 39,520 for bakeries – confectioners, 38,700 for groceries and foodstuffs and 30,700 for catering outlets.
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* The teams of the General Directorate of Agricultural Economy and Veterinary Medicine have so far proceeded to 2.236 inspections throughout the food supply chain.
From these, οι 1.443 were related to the domestic market, 760 to exports (customs, cold storage, etc.) and 33 to slaughterhouses operating within the Region of Attica. There were 46 seizures with a total weight of 11 tonnes of unfit meat, and 146 compliance recommendations were made.
Based on the statistics, compared to the same period last year, market checks increased by 19% (1.212 in 2025) and exports by 48% (512 in 2025), while the quantities of meat seized almost tripled (3.8 tonnes in 2025).
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* Finally, the auditors of the General Directorate of Public Health have proceeded with 1.012 audits.
For example, 404 were in catering services, 267 in retail businesses, 136 in hairdressing salons and 121 in food outlets, while 948 checks were carried out for the application of anti-smoking legislation.
It should be noted that the checks carried out concern all businesses that fall under the jurisdiction of the District’s mechanisms, such as meat, fruit and vegetable and other food distribution companies, supermarkets, farmers’ markets, cheese shops, poultry farms, toy shops, petrol stations, petrol stations, leisure businesses, etc.a.
