Food and Consumer Protection

What does "Food and Consumer Protection" mean?

This area is tasked with protecting consumers from health hazards, deception, and fraud in relation to

food, cosmetics, consumer goods (these are everyday items that come into contact with humans or food), and tobacco products.

Veterinarians and food inspectors work together interdisciplinarily. They conduct consultations, business inspections, and official sampling. At the same time, the import and export of food is monitored.

Our activities extend to manufacturers, trading and distribution companies, as well as service companies such as kitchens, restaurants, or snack bars. The spectrum ranges from internationally operating industrial companies to the corner kiosk.

Citizens can file complaints if they have purchased spoiled or substandard food (or cosmetics, consumer goods, or tobacco products) or consider the production conditions in a company to be inadequate.

There is the possibility to submit suspicious food or consumer goods, cosmetics, or tobacco products to the Veterinary and Food Monitoring Office. The decision to conduct an investigation lies with the Food Monitoring Office. The investigation is free of charge – provided it serves the public interest. This is the case if it is likely that other consumers could also purchase the criticized goods and be deceived or possibly even endangered in terms of health.