HZJZ is a central public health institute which deals with public health, health promotion and education, disease prevention, microbiology, environmental health, school medicine, mental health care and addiction prevention. It prepares and implements prevention programmes and other healthcare measures aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles. HZJZ carries out epidemiological surveillance and proposes, organises and undertakes preventive and counter-epidemic measures.

HZJZ coordinates the network of regional public health institutes. HZJZ and regional public health institutes have food laboratories which are official laboratories pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004.