The National Food Agency deals with all types of foodstuff, including drinking water.
In the interests of the consumers, the NFA works towards three goals:
- safe foods;
- fair practices in the food trade and
- healthy dietary habits.
In order to achieve these goals, the National Food Agency
- issues food standards and other food regulations;
- carries out supervision according to the Food Act and leads and co-ordinates food control in Sweden;
- keeps the Government informed about developments in the food sector;
- assists the Government with and participates in EU work and other international activities in the food area;
- carries out investigations on foods and dietary habits, develops methods for food control and performs risk benefit assessments;
- informs consumers and other interested parties in the food chain about current legislation and other important matters related to food;
The National Food Agency takes measures aimed at
- achieving effective and equivalent food control throughout the country;
- increasing the citizens', especially childrens' and youths', knowledge about good and safe food so that they can make informed choices;
The National Food Agency's work is based to a large extent on international co-operation, especially within the European Union.
The National Food Agency has an Advisory Council with the Director General of the National Food Agency as chairman.
The Director General, the deputy Director General and the seven heads of department are responsible for the day-to-day running of the National Food Agency, which has a staff of about 350 at its headquarters in Uppsala. In addition, about 90 veterinarians and 110 meat inspection assistants work on meat inspection and are stationed at slaughterhouses through-out Sweden.
Expert scientific advice for the National Food Agency's work is provided by the own experts and by external advisers and expert committees. National Food Agency has two external scientific advisory committees - on diet and health and pediatric nutrition respectively.
The scientific staff includes a high pro-portion of graduate scientists, about 50 of whom have doctorates. Scientific experts from the National Food Agency take an active part in the work of the Expert Panels of the European Food Safety Authority, the Council of Europe, FAO/WHO and other international organisations.
The Food Standards Department contains the Swedish Contact Point for the Codex Alimentarius. The Science Department contains the secretariat of the Swedish National Committee of the Nordic Committee on Food Analysis (NMKL).
The Control Support Division is the contact point for the European Community (EC) Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).
The Risk Benefit Assessment Department is the focal point for EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority).
Other organizations
The National Food Agency co-operates with other government agencies with responsibilities in related areas including:
- Swedish Board of Agriculture (agriculture, including animal health, the veterinary services and animal feed);
- National Chemicals Inspectorate (pesticide registration and use);
- Medical Products Agency (registration of drugs for human and veterinary use);
- Environmental Protection Agency (environmental pollution and protection);
- Swedish Consumer Agency (consumer information, marketing, advertising);
- National Institute of Public Health (information on alcohol, tobacco, diet and health);
- National Board of Health and Welfare (health statistics and health services);
- Institute of Infectious Disease Control (epidemiology and control of foodborne diseases);
- National Veterinary Institute (animal diseases, feed control, national zoonosis centre);
- National Board of Fisheries;
- Board for Accreditation and Conformity Assessment (laboratory accreditation).