The Ulaanbaatar Specialized Inspection Agency announced the result of an onsite inspection around trade centers, shops, markets and restaurants on January 31. Inspector Ts.Bulgan stated, “An inspection is conducted every year before a large festival and celebration to ensure secure food for the public. We found relatively fewer violations this year than those we found during inspections held before Tsagaan Sar in previous years.” The agency found 328 violations in 138 entities and organizations located in the capital since January 16 and resolved 204 of them on the spot. Fines amounting to 7.6 million MNT have been imposed on Jigd Khuch, OASI, Bayan Tengis, Darkhan Khan Cooperative, six entities, and self-employed business owners N.Batbold, A.Ulziibayar and A.Ariunbayar. Inspectors notified that the most common violations found during the onsite inspections were poor internal supervision, error in transportation regime, and failing to introduce industrial and hygienic practices in phases of the food network, monitor the technological process of production, track used ingredients and products, follow standards for the storage and labeling of products of animal origin, and have employees get regular health examinations. The Export and Import Inspection Division of the Ulaanbaatar Specialized Inspection Agency also conducted an inspection in the capital and found large numbers of violations. In particular, the division discovered problems with 19,600 tons of products of 576 entities as of January 30. The division’s inspector S.Tsend-Ayush briefed about an inspection on the quality of milk sold throughout Ulaanbaatar in partnership with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, Ulaanbaatar Food and Agriculture Office, and the Mongolian Association of Food Producers. The division tested 16 milk samples from 17 entities and evaluated that five of them didn’t comply with food standards. The Ulaanbaatar Specialized Inspection Agency warned about fake labels on pickles and kheviin boovs, long and round pastries specially made for Tsagaan Sar. Inspectors clarified that some individuals deceived customers by selling kheviin boov with Gandantegchinlen Monastery’s label because their pastries are one of the most popular in Mongolia. “We found pests in imported plums through laboratory tests held for plant protection and quarantine. As a result, we confiscated and exterminated seven kilograms of plums. There were people who put labels of Urbanik and Vagro brands on jars of pickles and other products which they made themselves,” inspector O.Nyamdavaa stated.