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Slovenia
Last updated on 15 January 2024.
* Host institution of the national EFSA Focal Point. For information on the EFSA Focal Point network, please see the EFSA website.
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Several national laws and governmental regulations represent the legal foundation for food legislation and official controls. Infringement of these regulations can lead to administrative and/or penalty measures being taken by the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection (UVHVVR), the Health Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia (ZIRS), the Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fisheries (IRSKGLR), and the Financial Administration (FURS). Measures can also be taken under criminal law (Public Prosecution Office) and civil law (civil claims). The above measures are based on legal requirements or on risk analyses in cases where no EU or national legal requirements exist. The final decision on the legality of measures taken rests with the courts.
The processes of risk assessment and risk management are institutionally separated.
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food
| Name | Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food |
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| Acronym | MKGP |
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| Location | Ljubljana |
| URL | https://www.gov.si/drzavni-organi/ministrstva/ministrstvo-za-kmetijstvo-gozdarstvo-in-prehrano/. |
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MKGP) is responsible for the policy and legislative framework in the areas of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, including food and feed quality, e.g. marketing standards for food, protected designation of origin, protected geographical indication, traditional speciality guaranteed, and indication of products of higher quality.
Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection
| Name | Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection |
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| Acronym | UVHVVR |
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| Responsibilities |
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| Location | Ljubljana |
| URL | https://www.gov.si/drzavni-organi/organi-v-sestavi/uprava-za-varno-hrano-veterinarstvo-in-varstvo-rastlin/novice-uprave-za-varno-hrano-veterinarstvo-in-varstvo-rastlin/ |
The Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection (UVHVVR), a body within the MKGP, is the principal competent authority for food and feed safety, animal health and welfare, and plant health. It is responsible for the preparation and implementation of the legislative framework, risk monitoring, managing the public, animal and plant health risks, as well as for official inspection and controls along the entire food and feed chain.
The competencies of the UVHVVR comprise administrative, technical and inspection tasks in the area of the safety, quality and labelling of food (including genetically modified organisms (GMOs), natural mineral waters) and feed; food safety in the catering sector, animal health and welfare, zoonoses, use of veterinary medicinal products, animal by-products, plant health protection, registration and use of plant protection products, and residues of pesticides.
The UVHVVR requests analyses of official samples and risk assessments from appointed scientific institutions and research organisations, such as:
- University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty – National Veterinary Institute
- National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food
- National Institute of Public Health
- Agricultural Institute of Slovenia
- National Institute of Biology
- Slovenian Institute for Hop Research and Brewing
- Slovenian Forestry Institute.
Within international trade, the UVHVVR is responsible for market access with regard to food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary requirements. Import and export controls in these sectors are implemented in close cooperation with the customs authority of FURS.
Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fisheries
| Name | Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fisheries |
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| Acronym | IRSKGLR |
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| Location | Ljubljana |
| URL | https://www.gov.si/drzavni-organi/organi-v-sestavi/inspektorat-za-kmetijstvo-gozdarstvo-lovstvo-in-ribistvo/ |
The Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fisheries (IRSKGLR) is responsible for official controls (on-the-spot checks) with regard to the identification and registration of animals.
Ministry of Health
| Name | Ministry of Health |
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| Acronym | MZ |
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| Location | Ljubljana |
| URL | https://www.gov.si/drzavni-organi/ministrstva/ministrstvo-za-zdravje/ |
The Ministry of Health (MZ) is responsible for the policy and legislative framework in the area of healthcare, including public health and health insurance. The portfolio of the MZ includes safety of food and drinking water and drafting and implementing a general policy on nutrition. Within the food safety area, the MZ is specifically responsible for the preparation of legislation and overseeing its implementation with regard to food for specific groups, food supplements and food contact materials. The MZ requests risk assessments from appointed scientific institutions, such as the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) and the National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food (NLZOH).
Health Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia
| Name | Health Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia |
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| Acronym | ZIRS |
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| Location | Ljubljana |
| URL | https://www.gov.si/drzavni-organi/organi-v-sestavi/zdravstveni-inspektorat/ |
The Health Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia (ZIRS) is responsible for the official control of food supplements, food for specific groups, food contact materials and drinking water.
Ministry of Finance - Financial Administration (FURS)
| Name | Ministry of Finance - Financial Administration (FURS) |
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| Acronym | MF |
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| Location | Ljubljana |
| URL | https://www.fu.gov.si/ |
The Financial Administration (FURS) is subordinate to the Ministry of Finance (MF). The FURS is responsible for official import controls regarding:
- Products of animal origin for personal consumption
- Foodstuffs of non-animal origin (except for the increased level of controls)
- Documentary and identity checks on animal feedstuffs of non-animal origin
- Wooden packaging materials
- Detection of illegal imports
National Institute of Public Health
| Name | National Institute of Public Health |
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| Acronym | NIJZ |
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| Location | Ljubljana |
| URL | https://www.nijz.si/en |
The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) is a national scientific organisation responsible for chemical, nutritional, microbiological and novel food risk assessments and risk communication. The NIJZ works in close collaboration with national and international organisations in the field of food safety.
National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food
| Name | National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food |
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| Acronym | NLZOH |
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| Location | Ljubljana |
| URL | https://www.nlzoh.si/en/ |
The National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food serves as a National Reference Laboratory pursuant to Regulation (EU) No. 2017/625 and is responsible for sampling, analysis and risk assessment of the official control samples.
University of Ljubljana - Veterinary Faculty, National Veterinary Institute
| Name | University of Ljubljana - Veterinary Faculty, National Veterinary Institute |
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| Acronym | UL – VF, NVI |
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| Location | Ljubljana |
| URL | https://www.vf.uni-lj.si/en/nvi |
The National Veterinary Institute conducts official sampling of food of animal origin for microbiological testing, conducts diagnostic tests for rabies, and performs tasks in the field of animal health. The NVI is designated as the NRL for residues of veterinary medicinal products and contaminants in food of animal origin, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Regional and local levels
The Republic of Slovenia consists of 212 municipalities and has a centralised structure. The food supervision activities come under the responsibility of the UVHVVR, which comprises a head office, ten + regional offices and two Border Inspection Posts (BIPs), and the ZIRS, which has a head office and seven regional offices.
