Slovakia
The central legal foundation for food legislation in Slovakia is the Act on Foodstuffs (No. 152/1995 Coll.). 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 Slovakia, risk assessment and risk management are institutionally separated. Risk assessments are published on the Internet.
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic
| Name | Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic |
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| Acronym | MPRV SR |
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| Location | Bratislava |
| URL | https://www.mpsr.sk/en/ |
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic (MPRV SR) is responsible for agricultural policy, animal health and welfare, animal feed, food safety, plant health and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The MPRV SR is involved in risk communication and the coordination of risk assessment. The MPRV SR manages and coordinates the official control authorities in the area of food and feed safety (State Veterinary and Food Administration, ŠVPS SR, and Central Controlling and Testing Institute in Agriculture, ÚKSÚP). The Food Safety and Nutrition Department of the MPRV SR coordinates laboratory analysis and authorises laboratories to conduct analytical work (including designation of National Reference Laboratories).
The Commission of the Food Chain Safety is an advisory body of the Food Safety and Nutrition Department of the MPRV SR. The commission issues advice with regard to food safety throughout the food chain, particularly with regard to the creation and implementation of strategies and policies in this area. Scientific risk assessments are prepared by scientific bodies, research institutions and universities.
Several National Reference Laboratories are attached to the MPRV SR pursuant to Regulation (EU) No. 2017/625.
Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic
| Name | Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic |
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| Acronym | MZ SR |
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| Location | Bratislava |
| URL | http://www.health.gov.sk |
The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (MZ SR) is responsible for health policy and is the central competent authority for official food controls in the hotel, restaurant and catering sector and for the production and placing of the following products on the market: novel foods, food supplements, foods intended for particular nutritional uses (including foods for infants and young children) as well as natural mineral water, spring water for infants and young children, foodstuffs treated with ionising radiation and food contact materials. The competent authority responsible for coordinating the implementation of official food controls in this sector is the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (ÚVZ SR) and its regional authorities.
The MZ SR has authorised several laboratories to conduct laboratory analyses of samples taken in the course of official food controls. All these laboratories are accredited according to EN ISO/IEC 17025 by SNAS (Slovak National Accreditation Service), DAP (Deutsches Akkreditierungssystem Prüfwesen), or the CAI (Czech Accreditation Institute).
National Reference Laboratories are attached to the MZ SR pursuant to Regulation (EU) No. 2017/625.
State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic
| Name | State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic |
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| Acronym | ŠVPS SR |
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| Location | Bratislava |
| URL | https://www.svps.sk/english/ |
The State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic (ŠVPS SR) is subordinate to the MPRV SR and responsible for the official control of animal health and welfare, food of animal and non-animal origin at all stages of production, processing and distribution, except in the catering sector, which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health (MZ SR). The remit of the ŠVPS SR extends to feed materials of animal origin, feedstuffs used directly at the farm level, medicated feedstuffs, veterinary medicines and their residues, and animal by-products.
The ŠVPS SR manages and coordinates the activities of the State Veterinary and Food Institute, the Institute for State Control of Veterinary Biopreparations and Medicines, and the Institute of Postgraduate Study for Veterinary Surgeons.
The laboratories of the State Veterinary and Food Institute have been designated by the MPRV SR as official laboratories to conduct analyses of samples taken in the course of official controls on animal health and the safety of food of animal and plant origin, including analyses of imported and domestically produced feedstuffs. These laboratories are accredited in accordance with EN ISO/IEC 17025. The regulatory authority for veterinary drugs is the Institute for State Control of Veterinary Biopreparations and Medicines (location: Nitra, http://www.uskvbl.sk).
Central Controlling and Testing Institute in Agriculture
| Name | Central Controlling and Testing Institute in Agriculture |
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| Acronym | ÚKSÚP |
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| Location | Bratislava |
| URL | https://www.uksup.sk/en |
The Central Controlling and Testing Institute in Agriculture (ÚKSÚP) is subordinate to the MPRV SR and is responsible for the official control of the agricultural sector. The remit of the ÚKSÚP covers plant health, seeds and seedlings, plant varieties, plant protection products, animal feed and animal nutrition. The ÚKSÚP assists with the drafting of legislation and provides advisory services.
The ÚKSÚP performs phytosanitary controls on imported and exported plants and plant materials at three border crossing points. The ÚKSÚP is the competent authority for organic farming in Slovakia, designated by the Department of Environmental Protection and Organic Farming (DEPOF). Analyses of samples taken in the course of official controls are conducted by its own accredited laboratories.
National Agricultural and Food Centre – Food Research Institute
| Name | National Agricultural and Food Centre – Food Research Institute |
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| Acronym | NPPC-VÚP |
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| Location | Bratislava |
| URL | http://www.vup.sk |
The NPPC-VÚP is subordinate to the MPRV SR and one of its main roles is research focused on food safety and the development of new analytical methods and techniques. The institute acts as part of the Rapid Alert System for Feed and Food (RASFF) in the Slovak Republic and provides scientific opinions with regard to contaminants and pesticides in food. The NPPC-VÚP is also involved in drafting food legislation. The NPPC-VÚP provides training for both businesses and official authorities and is active in the area of education and information with regard to food. The institute's laboratories are accredited to the EN ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 9000 standards.
Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic
| Name | Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic |
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| Acronym | ÚVZ SR |
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| Location | Bratislava |
| URL | http://www.uvzsr.sk |
The Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (ÚVZ SR) is the competent authority responsible for coordinating the implementation of official food controls in the sectors mentioned in the preceding section. The authority coordinates all food safety activities, including the preparation of control programmes and related reports, the organisation of laboratory capacity, and cooperation with the MPRV SR and on consumer protection issues. Controls are implemented by 36 regional public health authorities.
Regional and local levels
The Slovak Republic consists of eight regions and 79 districts. Food and feed inspections, as well as veterinary and phytosanitary care are coordinated and conducted by the ŠVPS SR, ÚKSÚP and ÚVZ SR. The ŠVPS SR is supported by eight regional and 40 district veterinary and food authorities, as well as four laboratories and three border inspection posts. The ÚVZ SR is supported by 36 regional authorities and 10 laboratories.
| Institutions involved in the EFSA network pursuant to Article 36 Reg. (EC) No. 178/2002 |
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