Norway
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In Norway, the central legal foundation for food legislation is the Food Act. The EU Food Law is incorporated in the Norwegian Food Act. 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.
In Norway, risk assessment and risk management are institutionally separated. Risk assessments conducted by the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) are published on the Internet unless there are statutory provisions prohibiting it.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food (LMD), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries (NFD), and the Ministry of Health and Care Services (HOD) share responsibility for shaping food policy and for the management of foodstuffs from production to the consumer. Mattilsynet (Norwegian Food Safety Authority, NFSA) is a joint subordinate agency under these ministries.
The Ministry of Climate and Environment (KLD) bears special responsibility for environmental policy issues. The Miljødirektoratet (Norwegian Environment Agency, NEA) is a subordinate agency under KLD.
Ministry of Health and Care Services
| Name | Ministry of Health and Care Services |
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| Acronym | HOD |
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| Location | Oslo |
| URL | https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/hod/id421/ |
The Ministry of Health and Care Services (HOD) deals with health policy, including nutrition and food safety. It is responsible for legislation in the field of health protection, food safety and food, except for primary production. HOD's responsibilities include drinking water and cosmetics. HOD is responsible for the Norwegian Directorate of Health, which deals with public health, including nutrition, as well as for the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. HOD finances and appoints the otherwise independent Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM).
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries
| Name | Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries |
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| Acronym | NFD |
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| Location | Oslo |
| URL | https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/nfd/id709/ |
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries (NFD) is responsible for legislation in the area of primary production in aquaculture, both wild and farmed fish and shellfish as well as fish feed. NFD’s portfolio also includes feed for marine animals, fish health and welfare, and sustainable use of marine resources.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
| Name | Ministry of Agriculture and Food |
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| Acronym | LMD |
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| Location | Oslo |
| URL | https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/lmd/id627/ |
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food (LMD) is the main ministry in charge of Mattilsynet (NFSA). It deals with agricultural policy in Norway. It is responsible for drafting legislation concerning the primary (agricultural) production of food and feed. The area of work of the LMD extends beyond food safety to include, for instance, plant health as well as animal health and welfare.
Ministry of Climate and Environment
| Name | Ministry of Climate and Environment |
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| Acronym | KLD |
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| Location | Oslo |
| URL | https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/kld/id668/ |
The Ministry of Climate and Environment (KLD) has the main responsibility for ensuring integrated governmental climate and environmental policies. In addition to initiating, developing and implementing its own measures and actions, KLD also acts as a promoter and coordinator to ensure that the authorities in the various sectors implement the environmental policies in their particular areas. KLD is the ministry in charge of Miljødirektoratet.
Norwegian Environment Agency
| Name | Norwegian Environment Agency |
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| Acronym | Miljødirektoratet |
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| Locations | Trondheim and Oslo |
| URL | https://www.environmentagency.no/ |
Miljødirektoratet (Norwegian Environment Agency) is KLD's advisory and executive body in the field of nature management. The agency's primary tasks and responsibilities are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving nature and preventing pollution.
Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment
| Name | Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment |
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| Acronym | VKM |
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| Location | Oslo |
| URL | http://www.vkm.no |
The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) is an independent risk assessment body consisting of a secretariat and a scientific committee. 100 experts constitute the committee, which is organised into a Scientific Steering Committee and eleven Scientific Panels, similar to the EFSA structure. The secretariat is organised as an independent unit within the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. VKM is financed and appointed by the Ministry of Health and Care Services. VKM conducts risk assessments at the request of Mattilsynet (NFSA) across the authority's field of responsibility. Furthermore, on behalf of the Miljødirektoratet (Norwegian Environment Agency), VKM carries out environmental risk assessments of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), microbiological products and alien organisms, as well as endangered species assessments related to the CITES regulations. VKM is the Norwegian Focal Point for EFSA. The director of VKM’s secretariat is a member of the EFSA Advisory Forum. VKM is the Norwegian Scientific Authority under the CITES Convention.
Norwegian Food Safety Authority
| Name | Norwegian Food Safety Authority |
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| Acronym | NFSA (Mattilsynet) |
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| Location | Oslo |
| URL | https://www.mattilsynet.no/language/english/ |
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) is a governmental body whose aim is to implement regulations and controls to ensure that food and drinking water are as safe and healthy as possible for consumers, and to promote plant, fish and animal health. The NFSA's regulations cover ethical animal husbandry and encourage environmentally friendly production. It also regulates and controls cosmetics and animal health personnel. The NFSA's role is to draft and provide information on legislation, perform risk-based inspections, monitor food safety as well as plant, fish and animal health, provide updates on developments within its area of responsibility, and plan for emergencies. The NFSA advises and does preparatory work for legislation under the three main food ministries: LMD, NFD and HOD.
The NFSA is the regulatory authority for pesticides, and it is responsible for residues of veterinary medicines. However, the Norwegian Medicines Agency is responsible for the approval of veterinary medicines.
The NFSA is organised into two administrative levels: the head office in Oslo and 5 regions: Northern region, Central region, Southern and Western region, Eastern region, and Greater Oslo region. The regional level includes 32 district offices.
| Institutions involved in the EFSA network pursuant to Article 36 Reg. (EC) No. 178/2002 |
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