The Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV) is the subordinate specialist authority of the MA. Based on scientific risk assessments, the DGAV implements state food policy and conducts inspections.

As regards the operation of control systems for the safety of food and feed, animal health and animal welfare, plant health and veterinary public health, activities are carried out by five regional directorates that report directly to the DGAV's central management. This directorate also controls an inspection network.

The powers of the DGAV comprise the areas of genetically modified food, zoonoses, veterinary and plant protection product residues, and food contact materials. The DGAV is the regulatory body for veterinary and plant protection products in Portugal and residues of plant protection products, including pesticide residues in plants. As the national plant protection authority, the DGAV supports the development of regulations on plant protection products and implements the national waste control programmes, including pesticides. The DGAV is also responsible for developing the multi-annual national control plan in compliance with the principles and guidelines laid down in Regulation (EU) No. 2017/625.

The DGAV's area of work goes beyond food safety to include, for example, animal health, animal feed, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, animal by-products, veterinary medicines and animal welfare.