Kosovo

The Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) is an executive agency under the auspices of the Prime Minister's Office. Within the Law on Food 03/L-016, the FVA is referred to as the competent authority for food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary issues.

The FVA develops, coordinates and implements food and feed safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policies in order to protect public health, animal health, plant health and the environment.

The FVA’s activities also include approval and registration of food business operators and ensures that official controls are conducted within the scope of risk-based annual planning. Risk-based assessments are used for controls at border inspection posts when food and feed is imported from other countries.

The Media Relations Unit of the FVA deals with risk communication on a regular basis and in emerging crisis situations as well.

The Food and Veterinary Laboratory (FVL) is part of the FVA, and performs laboratory tests for food, feed and animal diseases.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD) is responsible for the development of agricultural policy, legislation and programming for agriculture, food and feed safety.

MAFRD prepares legal bases for establishing infrastructure, development and strategic planning for implementing safety of food and feed measures, plant protection and aquaculture.

Additionally, MAFRD prepares planning for rural development related to food security and environmental protection.

Within MAFRD, the Agency for Rural Development is responsible for financial support for farmers and producers in order to increase production capacities and implement food safety standards.

MAFRD also comprises the Kosovo Agriculture Institute (KAI) and the Wine Institute. These institutes are accredited under ISO 17025, which ensures high quality standards in laboratory analyses of plant, feed, soil and wine.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is responsible for matters of public health and healthcare. This includes drafting legislation for foodborne and waterborne diseases. The MoH actively participates in the harmonisation between Kosovo's national legislation and EU legislation.

MoH is authorised by the National Institute for Public Health (NIPH) to perform laboratory analysis of samples collected during official controls conducted by the FVA.

NIPH laboratories are accredited according to ISO17025:2006 and cover the areas of microbiology, biology and biochemistry, in particular the analysis of food products, beverages and water.