The Ministry of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) is responsible for agricultural policy and safety of food of animal origin (i.e. during primary production by farmers, growers and fishermen). LVVN prepares draft legislation in this area and ensures the traceability of food of animal origin.

In the Netherlands, it is the responsibility of the food producers to ensure safe foods and to conduct appropriate day-to-day quality controls. The government supervises this self-control system (“supervising the supervisor”).

LVVN bases risk management measures on risk assessments prepared by the Office for Risk Assessment and Research (BuRO), an independent unit within the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

The portfolio of LVVN includes zoonoses, GMOs and residues of plant protection products and veterinary medicinal products in animal feed. The area of work of LVVN extends beyond food safety to plant health, plant protection, animal health and animal welfare. LVVN is the regulatory authority for plant protection products and veterinary medicinal products.