During 2017, the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Health, in agreement with the Ministry of Health, carried out an extensive and constant monitoring and control activity in the sectors of its competence, aimed at ensuring the protection of the health of citizens both in the field of food safety with particular regard to the fight against fraud and counterfeiting, and in the health sector, through regular verification of the levels of health care and pharmaceuticals provided. The activities of the NAS employees were carried out through a planned and articulated strategy at national level based both on detailed inspection plans aimed at the various issues and sectors of institutional competence, and through the performance of investigative activities conducted on complex criminal phenomena that can only be tackled with traditional judicial police services.
In 2017, a total of 49,700 interventions at companies, structures and objectives considered at risk
In 2017, the carabinieri of the NAS carried out a total of 49,700 interventions at companies, structures and objectives, of which 14,909 highlighted administrative or criminal irregularities (equal to 30% of checks). The investigative activities made it possible to ascertain serious crime episodes which ended with the arrest of 154 people held responsible for significant criminal offenses and the denunciation of another 4,495 to the judicial authorities. The value of the violations detected during the inspections and investigations is significant: over 9,700 the number of crimes alleged and 18,262 the number of administrative fines, for a value of over 17 million euro.
In the food safety sector, irregularities were recorded in the 38% of the interventions carried out
In detail, it should be noted that in the food safety sector the controls involved around 60% of the total interventions (around 30,000 checks). The objectives that were found not to comply with sector regulations were 38% of the total, equal to 11,256 companies or companies with minor or major criticalities. Although the legislation governing the food sector has been significantly decriminalized, the NAS checks nonetheless resulted in the arrest of 17 people and the denunciation to the GA of 1,296 owners of businesses or structures for crimes attributable to the criminal association aimed at adulterating foodstuffs, sale of food that is harmful or dangerous to health or in a poor state of conservation; in addition, 9,278 people were reported to the Administrative Authorities for violating food self-control regulations, labeling and tracking the origin of products. The execution of targeted preventive and repressive services on the national territory made it possible to identify and seize more than 18,000 tons and 100,000 packages of irregular foods, potentially dangerous for the health of consumers, stolen before being released for consumption. In addition, closure/suspension of the activity or seizure were carried out against 1,514 structures, commercial and administration activities in the food chain, for an estimated value of 386 million euros.
Many, too many irregularities in the pharmaceutical-health sector
In the pharmaceutical-health sector, another macro-area of strategic importance for the health of the citizen, the checks involved 18,967 targets, including public and private health and social-welfare structures, companies in the drug supply chain, companies distributing and selling toys, cosmetics and miscellaneous items. Of these, 3,480 were found to be non-compliant with current regulations. In this context, 133 people were arrested for crimes against the public administration such as corruption, embezzlement, fraud on the health service, ill-treatment and other serious criminal offences. A further 3,150 people were reported to the competent judicial authorities and 1,862 reported to the administrative authorities. There were 10,090 irregularities identified during the checks, 70% of which of criminal significance, with the imposition of a total of 3 million and 60 thousand euros in fines. Overall, the activities led to the seizure or suspension of the activity of 169 structures, such as medical and dental clinics, accommodation facilities for the elderly, analysis laboratories and commercial companies of products for healthcare and medical use, for a total value of over 121 million euros.
The carabinieri in white coats also blocked distribution channels for banned or unlicensed pharmaceutical substances
At the same time, illicit distribution channels were also identified for prohibited pharmaceutical substances or without authorization for sale, by seizing 106,000 packs of medicines and over 98,000 tablets, capsules and vials of bulk illegal and counterfeit medicines, including narcotic, anabolic and doping. The activity carried out by the Carabinieri of the NAS to protect the consumer was also aimed at controlling the importation and distribution of non-food products, potentially dangerous to health because they lack the CE marking and adequate safety indications: in this context, even with the support of the rapid alert system based on the Ministry of Health, over 1 million and 274 thousand unsuitable products were seized and taken away from sale, including gift items, household items, electrical devices and lights, electronic cigarettes and related refills, for an amount of more than 4 million euros. Of these, almost 950,000 were toys and items intended for children, blocked above all in wholesale distribution companies during the periods concurrent with the various seasonal festivities, without the purchase.
CARABINIERI COMMAND FOR THE PROTECTION OF HEALTH
THE NAS, Nuclei Antisophisticazioni e Sanità dell'Arma, were established on October 15, 1962, at the moment in which the phenomenon of food adulteration became aware, which was beginning to arouse so much alarm in public opinion.
Initially the "force" consisted of a Senior Officer, seconded to the Cabinet of the then Ministry of Health, and 40 non-commissioned officers stationed in the cities of Milan, Padua, Bologna, Rome, Naples And Palermo. Over time, also in relation to the consistent results achieved, the presence on the territory of the men of the Nuclei Antisophisticazione e Sanità (NAS) increased considerably, until the moment in which the department, acquiring the current denomination of Carabinieri command for the protection of health, has taken on a new organizational physiognomy.
Today it has 1096 specialized units, spread over:
- a central structure made up of the Commander, Command Office and Analysis Department;
- 3 Carabinieri Groups for the Protection of Health (Milan, Rome and Naples);
- 38 Carabinieri Anti-adulteration and Health Nuclei, present throughout the national territory, with regional or inter-provincial jurisdiction.
In January 2017 at the AIFA (Italian Medicines Agency) the "AIFA Carabinieri Unit” directly dependent on the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Health which carry out checks and checks:
– on the anti-corruption provisions for the authorizations granted by AIFA;
– on pharmaceutical expenditure and on drug traceability for the prevention and fight against frauds to the detriment of the National and regional Health Service;
– monitoring of adverse events related to the use of drugs (pharmacovigilance).
The Department is included in the main community alarm systems in the field of food, non-food products and medicines. The international projection has seen the Carabinieri of the NAS earn a leadership role in recent years, to the point of becoming one of the reference points for the most important European bodies and institutions. The carabinieri of the NAS represent a national and European "unique".
The activity of NOS it has always aroused strong admiration among the leaders of the Arma, the Ministry of Health, among the commercial operators themselves and among the population, receiving awards and certificates of merit everywhere.
