FVS - Food and Veterinary Services

Although the European Union has been already working at the issues of food safety for several decades, there are still serious, food related problems present. In 1996 the European Commission admitted that there is a large variety of biological pathogens and chemical detergents that cause food poisoning, but almost all of them have something in common: they accompany the products of animal and plant origin from the cattle-shed or barn till the table.  Within the framework of food surveillance concept „from the field till the table” which is the most effective way how to protect the consumer right to receive safe and harmless food in January 1, 2002 the Food and Veterinary Service (FVS) started operating under the Ministry of Agriculture. 

FVS's largest and most significant workforce is working in 11 headquarters around the Latvia on veterinary supervision and food controls.

FVS's Central office : Director-General , Administration , Food Surveillance Department , Veterinary Surveillance Department and the Department of Border Control are those that have strategic planning of all service work and help authorities to deal with food and veterinary supervision throughout the country.

On the European Union's external borders twenty four hours are working FVS sanitary border inspectors . FVS Food Centre carries out the scientific research es and evaluates specific types of food before launching them in to the market.