Iceland

The Ministry of Industries and Innovation (ANR) is responsible for fisheries and agricultural policy and food safety in Iceland.

Risk assessment comity is under the responsibility of ANR.

The ministry prepares legislation in the area of fish and agricultural products, foods of animal and plant origin and other food and feed, and is responsible for official controls.

The portfolio of ANR includes drinking water, plant health, animal health, feed, animal welfare, seeds, fertilisers and fishing catches.

The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST) consists of a head office, an office for import and export control, and regional offices. MAST supervises the food control activities of the municipalities. MAST is subordinate to ANR and is the central authority in the field of food safety, animal health and animal welfare. MAST is involved in risk communication as well as preparatory work for legislation (in support of ANR activities).

MAST is responsible for inspections and controls during the import and export of food, feed, plants and live animals. In the area of food of animal origin, MAST carries out controls and inspections during primary production, in slaughterhouses, during the processing of meat and fish, and in dairies and during egg production.

MAST cooperates with Matís Ltd. with regard to risk assessment in the area of food safety and human exposure to contaminants. Matís Ltd. provides scientific advice and support in the area of chemical and microbiological food safety, monitoring of food safety risks as well as laboratory diagnostic services in the field of chemical and microbiological risks.

MAST cooperates with the Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur, University of Iceland, with regard to risk assessment in the area of animal disease. The Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur also provides scientific advice and support in the areas of animal and human disease, monitoring human health, as well as laboratory diagnostic services in the field of animal disease.

MAST also cooperates with several other scientific and governmental institutions within Iceland, e.g. the Chief Epidemiologist of the Directorate of Health on topics regarding communicable diseases, the Directorate of Customs regarding import and export, and the Icelandic Medicines Agency regarding the evaluation and registration of veterinary medicinal products.

The Icelandic Food and Biotech R&D (Matís Ltd.) is an independent research institute owned by the Icelandic government. Matís Ltd. provides laboratory services as well as risk assessments in the area of food safety. Matís is designated as a National Reference Laboratory in 12 fields covering chemical and microbiological food safety risks.