Luxembourg

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drawio: Luxembourg

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Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 and the national law from 28 July 2018 introducing the control systems and sanctions related to food safety are the central legal foundations for food legislation in Luxembourg. Infringement of food regulations can lead to measures under criminal law and consumer damage claims under civil law, whereby the final decision rests with the courts. Government measures with regard to food safety are often based on scientific risk assessments. However, the final decision on the legality of governmental measures rests with the courts.

In Luxembourg, there is no institutional separation of risk assessment from risk management.


Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture

Name Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture
Acronym MAAV
Activities
  • Policy for agriculture, safety of the whole food chain, animal health and welfare
  • Consumer protection policy
Responsibilities Animal feed Animal health and welfare Biological hazards and zoonoses Biotechnology and genetic engineering Contaminants Emerging risks Plant health Plant protection products or pesticides Residues of veterinary medicinal products
Location Luxembourg
URL www.agriculture.public.lu

www.securite-alimentaire.lu www.ma.gouvernement.lu

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture (MAAV) deals with agricultural policy and prepares draft legislation in specific areas of food and feed safety and food quality as well as animal health and welfare. As with all ministries, the MAAV is supported by competent authorities, such as the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) and Agricultural Technical Services Administration (ASTA).

Ministry for Consumer Protection

Name Ministry for Consumer Protection
Acronym MPC
Activities
  • Consumer protection policy, food safety
  • Risk management
  • Risk communication
Location Luxembourg
URL http://mpc.gouvernement.lu

The newly created Ministry for Consumer Protection (MPC) deals with general consumer protection policy and food safety and is in charge of the legislation in these areas.

It is supported in its work by the Government Commissariat for Quality, Fraud and Food Safety (COMALIM), which manages the budgets of the ASV and the Directorate of Public Health (DIR SAN) related to food safety.

MPC has the task of regrouping food control activities into one administration.

Ministry of Health

Name Ministry of Health
Acronym MS
Activities
  • Health policy
  • Risk management
  • Risk communication
Responsibilities Biological hazards and zoonoses Biotechnology and genetic engineering Contaminants Drinking water Emerging risks Food contact materials and packaging Food ingredients Food supplements Mineral water Nanotechnology Novel foods Nutrition Plant health Plant protection products or pesticides Residues of veterinary medicinal products
Location Luxembourg
URL https://msan.gouvernement.lu/en.html

http://sante.lu

The Ministry of Health (MS) deals with health policy.

Official food safety inspections are conducted by subordinate authorities of the MS (SECUALIM, ASV) but are monitored by the MPC. The MS is supported by competent authorities such as Directorate of Public Health (DIR SAN). The portfolio of the MS extends beyond the field of food safety to include, for instance, cosmetics, medical devices and pharmacological substances.

Commissariat for Quality, Fraud and Food Safety

Name Commissariat for Quality, Fraud and Food Safety
Acronym COMALIM
Activities
  • Risk assessment
  • Risk management
  • Risk communication
  • EFSA Focal Point
  • COM Contact Point
Responsibilities Animal feed Animal health and welfare Biological hazards and zoonoses Biotechnology and genetic engineering Contaminants Drinking water Emerging risks Food contact materials and packaging Food ingredients Food supplements Mineral water Nanotechnology Novel foods Nutrition Plant health Plant protection products or pesticides Residues of veterinary medicinal products
Location Strassen
URL http://www.securite-alimentaire.lu

The Commissariat for Quality, Fraud and Food Safety (COMALIM) is an administration under the MPC. It is the task of the COMALIM to ensure optimal cooperation between all authorities in the area of food and feed safety. Policy and management measures of all the ministries active in food safety are based on risk assessments prepared by the COMALIM (as well as the ASTA, ASV, and DIR SAN). The COMALIM is responsible for the coordination of official food and feed inspections in the framework of the Multi-Annual National Control Plan (MANCP). It is the contact point for RASFF, AAC, and the Food Fraud Network. In addition, the COMALIM provides training for these authorities, as described in Regulation (EU) No. 2017/625.

The remit of COMALIM focuses on food safety, including novel foods, residues of plant protection products and veterinary medicinal products, food supplements, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), zoonoses, mineral waters and drinking water.

Agricultural Technical Services Administration

Name Agricultural Technical Services Administration
Acronym ASTA
Activities
  • Risk assessment
  • Risk management
Responsibilities Animal feed Biological hazards and zoonoses Contaminants Plant health Plant protection products or pesticides
Location Luxembourg / Ettelbruck
URL https://agriculture.public.lu

The Agricultural Technical Services Administration (ASTA) is a subordinate authority within the portfolio of the MAVDR and responsible for risk assessments and implementation of state inspections of feed, plant protection products, the EU quality labels PDO, PGI and TSG, organic farming and marketing standards. The ASTA is the regulatory authority for the approval of plant protection products. The ASTA is responsible for the control of primary production and the import of food of non-animal origin and plants.

Veterinary Service Administration

Name Veterinary Service Administration
Acronym ASV
Activities
  • Risk assessment
  • Risk management
Responsibilities Animal health and welfare Biological hazards and zoonoses Contaminants Food contact materials and packaging Food ingredients Residues of veterinary medicinal products
Location Strassen
URL https://agriculture.public.lu

The Veterinary Service Administration (ASV) is a subordinate authority within the portfolio of the MAVDR and MPC. The ASV is responsible for risk assessments and the implementation of official inspections in the field of food of animal originas well as animal health and welfare.

Directorate of Public Health

Name Directorate of Public Health
Acronym DIR SAN
Activities
  • Risk assessment
  • Risk management
Responsibilities Biological hazards and zoonoses Biotechnology and genetic engineering Contaminants Drinking water Emerging risks Food contact materials and packaging Food ingredients Food supplements Mineral water Nanotechnology Novel foods Nutrition Plant protection products or pesticides Residues of veterinary medicinal products
Location Strassen
URL http://www.sante.public.lu

http://www.securite-alimentaire.lu

The Directorate of Public Health (DIR SAN) is subordinate to the MS. The Division of Food Safety (SECUALIM) within DIR SAN operates under the MPC and is responsible for risk assessments and the implementation of state food safety controls in the area of food hygiene, HACCP, microbiological agents, contaminants, pesticide residues, GMOs, novel food, food supplements, food additives, special dietary food, food labelling, food contact material, irradiation, import of food and beverages of non-animal origin.

In the area of food hygiene, SECUALIM closely collaborates with the customs administration. Common procedures and checklists are in place for inspection and control activities.

The Division of Pharmacy and Medicines (DPM) within DIR SAN is responsible for risk assessments and the implementation of state food safety controls in the area of medicated feed and medicinal products. DPM is one of the regulatory authorities for the approval of veterinary medicinal products.

Regional and local levels

Feed, food and other types of inspections are implemented by central authorities.

Article 36 institutions

Institutions involved in the EFSA network pursuant to Article 36 Reg. (EC) No. 178/2002
  1. Ministry for Consumer Protection of Luxembourg (MPC)
  2. Institute of Health (LIH)
  3. Laboratoire national de santé (LNS)
  4. Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)
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