Directorate General of Food and Veterinary (DGAV)

Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária (DGAV) is a central service of the direct administration of the State endowed with administrative autonomy.

The DGAV is given the competencies relating to animal health and protection formerly carried out by the Directorate-General for Veterinary Affairs (DGAV).
In addition, the functions of regulation and coordination of food control, previously assigned to the Office of Policy and Planning, are added.
The DGAV also has the functions of plant health and plant health, formerly carried out by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

With the extinction of the Alter Real Foundation, the DGAV also has the powers of the Molecular Genetics Laboratory, the National Register of Equines and the management of herd books.