Sweden

Within the Government Offices of Sweden, the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure is responsible for agricultural policy and matters related to the entire food chain, including food safety. In close collaboration with other government ministries, policy issues related to food safety and the entire food chain are handled. As specified by their mandate, public agencies (i.e. SLV, SJV and SVA) provide support to the ministry.

The Swedish Food Agency (SLV) is an independent, non-ministerial government authority. Nonetheless, SLV is accountable to the government and the Government Offices of Sweden.

In the area of food safety, SLV is responsible for risk and benefit assessments, risk communication and risk management. SLV prepares draft legislation on the basis of science-based risk assessments. SLV is responsible for state food inspections and for the subsequent information on the outcome of the control and inspection activities.

Within SLV, the Department of Risk and Benefit Assessment conducts independent risk assessments for food safety issues, including biohazards, novel foods, food supplements and botanicals, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), foodborne infections, contaminants and drinking water. The department also conducts risk assessments for plant protection products and veterinary medicinal product residues in food. However, the regulatory authority for plant protection products is the Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemikalieinspektionen) and the regulatory authority for veterinary medicinal products is the Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket). SLV provides laboratory analytical services related to food safety.

The remit of the Risk Benefit Assessment Department extends beyond food safety to include nutrition and the conducting of national dietary surveys. 

The Swedish Board of Agriculture (SJV) is an independent, non-ministerial government authority. Nonetheless, SJV is accountable to the government and the Government Offices of Sweden.

In the area of feed safety, SJV is responsible for risk communication and risk management. It prepares draft legislation on the basis of science-based risk assessments. It is also responsible for state feed inspections and if necessary, subsequent information for the government on the outcome of control and inspection activities.

The remit of SJV includes residues of plant protection products and GMOs in feed and extends beyond food safety to plant health, animal health and animal welfare. 

The National Veterinary Institute (SVA) is a risk assessment expert authority in animal health, subordinate to the Government Offices of Sweden. The SVA provides laboratory analytical services and epidemiological and microbiological expertise. The SVA prepares science-based risk assessments in the fields of zoonoses, animal health, feed and environment (including water).