www.ages.at 1

AGES – Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety

Health. Nutrition. Safety. Our Concern.

Contact: Dr.Dr. Alois LeidweinResearch Coordination, Knowledge Transfer, AGES Academy

cooperation@ages.at

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Our Vision

“Health for Humans, Animals and Plants”

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AGES aims at

• safe food production from the soil to the fork

• effective control and prevention of epidemics for people, animals and plants

• providing effective and safe pharmaceutical products

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Capacity Building within the Food Production Cycle

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Basics

Founded by federal law in 2002Merger of 18 formerly independent institutions

Owner: Republic of Austria represented by

Budget 2014: 124 Mio € thereof

Basic Funding: 73 Mio €Earnings 51 Mio € thereof

Fees 38 Mio € Commercial 9 Mio € Research/Capacity Building 3 Mio €

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AGES Structure

An

imal H

ealt

h

Pu

blic H

ealt

h

Food

Safe

ty

Rad

iati

on

Pro

tecti

on

Au

str

ian

Med

icin

e &

M

ed

ical D

evic

es

Ag

en

cy

Data, Statistics & Risk Assessment

Risk Communication

Research & Knowledge Transfer (AGES Academy)

1) 2)

1) BAES: Austrian Federal Office for Food Safety (Authority)

2) BASG: Austrian Federal Office for Safety in Healthcare (Authority)

Food

Secu

rity

BAES BASG

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Premises

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Food Security*

Food Safety

Veterinary Medicine

Public Health

Austrian Medicine & Medical Devices Agency

Radiation Protection

Data, Statistics & Risk Assessment

*The Department of Food Security operates several experimentation stations in addition to its premises in Vienna and Linz.

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Data

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Authorities Decisionsof them

Authorizations

BASG ~ 32.500 ~ 600

BAES ~ 23.500 ~ 20.500

Staff (2014) ~ Number

Staff in total 1.350

Experts 570

Assessors 290

Memberships in national or international committees

700

Scientific staff 400

PhD/Univ. Prof. 250/12

Analytics and appraisal ~ p.a.

Tests 770.000

Analytic results 7.300.000

Expert opinions (food safety) 25.500

Risk assessments 50

Research/Capacity Building ~ p.a.

Research and knowlegde Transfer Projectsongoing (finished)

120(45)

Publications peer reviewed 100

Publications popular science 200

Presentations 750

Training, workshops and symposia 100

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Impact orientation of AGES

1. Improve the state of communicable diseases affecting humans

2. Improve the state of food borne diseases3. Further development of integrated risk based methods within the

cycle humans – animals – plants - soil4. Freedom of animal and plant diseases 5. Faultless goods including feeding stuffs and water 6. Safe and effective medicines and medical devices7. Food security and ensuring competitiveness of agricultural

production, particularly by ensuring faultless agricultural inputs8. Develop research for being able to perform official tasks and

current issues 9. Well informed and economic operators and consumers

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Strategic Research Questions

Agro-ecology and Biodiversity

Epidemiological models, economic assessment

Apiculture Faultless Goods and Food

Safety Faultless WaterNutrition and Consumer

protection Food SecurityResearch Infrastructures

Food borne diseases and Zoonosis

Method Development and Risk Assessment

Sustainable Plant ProductionRadiation ProtectionAnimal Nutrition and

FeedingstuffsAnimal HealthCommunicable diseases

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AGES-Academy

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• More than 100 trainings, workshops and symposia per year.

• More than 4,000 participants per year.

• Modern and comfortable lecture rooms with up to date equipment.

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International Cooperation

1. Capacity building

2. Research projects

3. Agricultural experimentation

4. Scientific Cooperation

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1. Capacity building

• Twinning

• Development cooperation

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Capacity building projectsTwinnings

• Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA 09 IB AG 01 TWL):Strengthening of the capacities of the phytosanitary services in BiH• Bulgaria (BG/2007/IB/AG/06/UE/TWL): Testing, Field Inspection and Seed Control for GMO control of seed and

propagating material • Czech Republic (CZ/06/IB/AG/08-TL): Improved Implementation of Acquis in the Area of Food Safety Surveillance • Slovakia (SK06/IB/HE/01/TL): Improving analyses and risk assessments regarding residue pesticides • Turkey TR 07 IB EN 01, Capacity strengthening and support of implementation of Nitrates Directive in Turkey (in

co-operation with Austrian Environmental Agency–UBA)• Latvia (LV/2006/IB/AG-02TL): Strengthening of the capacity of the Competent Authorities on the application of food

hygiene requirements in the specific sectors of food chain, running (in cooperation with Agrarmarkt Austria -AMA)• Czech Republic (CZ/05/IB/AG/01-TL): The optimization of CISTA control activities in the field of feedingstuffs safety

in the frame of Reg (EC) 882/2004 implementation• Serbia (SR/06/IB/JH/01): Implementation of Integrated Border Management in Serbia (in cooperation with the

Austrian Agency for European Integration and Economic Development-AEI)• Lithuania (LT/2005/IB/AG01): Administration of Import/Export, Market Information System, effective use of Farm

Accountancy Data Network and Organic Agriculture (in cooperation with Agrarmarkt Austria-AMA)• Slovenia (SI/2005/IB/AG/04): Risk assessment methodology and Risk assessment in the food chain regarding

microorganisms (in cooperation with Agrarmarkt Austria-AMA)• Bulgaria (BG/2004/IB/EC/01): Strengthening of the system for health control on trade with chemical substances,

preparations and products and strengthening the capacity for control on the novel foods and novel food ingredients, and for control on the irradiated foods and food ingredients (in co-operation with Austrian Environmental Agency–UBA)

• Cyprus (CY/2003/IB/EN/01/TL): Developing of capabilities for integrated risk assessment of chemicals at State General Laboratory (SGL)* (in co-operation with Austrian Environmental Agency–UBA),

• Slovakia (SK/03/IB/EN/02): Biosafety Monitoring System (in co-operation with Umweltbundesamt–UBA)• Slovenia (SI/2003/IB/EC/02): Further development of chemical safety (in co-operation with Umweltbundesamt-

UBA)• Regional Countries (West Balkan): EU-CARDS Regional Programme "Support to and Coordination of Integrated

Border Management Strategies"

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Capacity building projectsBetter training for safer foode.g.: European commission, organisation and implementation of training activities

concerning the evaluation and registration of plant protection products and control of their proper use and marketing

Development CooperationSerbia: Integrated Regional Development Plan of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina

(agriculture, organic agriculture)

Bilateral Projects• Saudi Arabia: Laboratory training for experts of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (since

2010)• Croatia: Laboratory trainings • Lithuania (2008): Workshop – GMO in feed inspections for Lithuanian officials• Bulgaria – TAIEX (2007): Workshop on phytosanitary inspections at import and transit

Cooperation with international organisations• UNIDO: “Food Safety Infrastructure in Palestine - The way forward” (2010)• UNIDO: Thai national food institute study visit (2010)• IAEA: Bangladesh: Establishing a Veterinary Drug Residue Laboratory

Algeria: Training Laboratory “Antibiotic Residues in Food of Animal Origin”Various countries: "Development of Radiometric and Allied Analytical Methods

to Strengthen National Residue Control Programmes for Antibiotic and Anthelmintic Veterinary Drug Residues" (2009 - 2013)

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2. Research projects

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Research - challenges

• Climate change adaptation• Food security• Food safety• Human health• Plant health• Animal health• Risk Assessment

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National research projectsExamples:

• Consequences of climate change on ecosystem functions, water balance, productivity and biodiversity of agricultural soils in the Pannonian area.

• Modelling epidemiological and economic consequences of Grapevine Flavescence dorée phytoplasma to Austrian viticulture under a climate change scenario

• Climate change induced invasion and socio-economic impacts of allergy-inducing plants in Austria

• Food security risks for Austria caused by climate change

• Appearance of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera L. in Austria

• Copper as Plant Protection Product – Strategy for a sustainable use

• Development of a geo referenced exposure model for the evaluation of Plant Protection Products regarding ground water contamination risks

• Losses of honey bee colonies during hibernation or in supposed cases of intentional colony destruction - what were the reasons?

• Dust as an indicator for the detection of Salmonella in the Austrian production of mixed feed in storage facilities and along the production chain

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EU research projects

UMBRELLAUsing MicroBes for the REgulation of heavy metaL mobiLity at ecosystem and landscape scAle: an integrative approach for soil remediation by geobiological processes

FP7-ENV-2008-1 FP7

ERINHA European Research Infrastructure on Highly Pathogenic AgentsFP7-INFRASTRUCTURES-2010-1

FP7

PROMISEProtection of consumers by microbial risk mitigation through combating segregation of expertise

FP7-KBBE-2010-4 FP7

EUPHRESCO

Coordination of European Phytosanitary (Statutory Plant Health) Research Coordination II

FP7-ERANET-2010-RTD FP7

CATCH-CCompatibility of Agricultural Management Practices and Types of Farming in the EU to enhance Climate Change Mitigation and Soil Health

FP7-KBBE-2011-5 FP7

SNIFFER Sensory devices network for food supply chain security FP7-SEC-2012-1 FP7

SPICEDSecuring the spices and herbs commodity chains in Europe against deliberate, accidental or natural biological and chemical contamination

FP7-SEC-2012-1 FP7

Q-collectCoordination and Collaboration between reference collections of plant pests and diseases for EU Plant Health Policy

FP7-KBBE-2013-7-single-stage

FP7

C-IPM Coordinated Integrated Pest Management in Europe FP7-ERANET-2013-RTD FP7

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EU research projects

FATIMAFarming Tools for external nutrient Inputs and water Management

H2020-SFS-2014-2H2020

LANDMARK LAND Management: Assessment, Research, Knowledge base H2020-SFS-2014-2H2020

INSPIRATIONIntegrated Spatial Planning, land use and soil management Research Action

H2020-SC5-2014-one-stage H2020

VISTARTVigiliance and Inspection for the Safety of Transfusion, Assisted Reproduction and Transplantation

HP-JA-2014 - BASG 3HP

EMERGEEfficient response to highly dangerous and emerging pathogens at EU level

HP-JA-2014 3HP

COENJA2014

Joint Market Surveillance Actions on medical devices intended to be re-sterilized focusing on information in the Instruction for use and validation data necessary for the re-sterilisation by the user

HP-JA-2014 - BASG 3HP

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EFSA Studies

ongoing:

Apple-pest Collection of data and information with ELS approach for the EU-28 regarding EU pests and pathogens of apple fruit

RC/EFSA/ALPHA/2014/

RONDOS Review of nonmonotonic dose-responses of substances for human risk assessment

GP/EFSA/SCER/2014/01

PESTREP Scientific and technical assistance on the drafting of the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Annual Reports on Pesticide Residues”, CFT/EFSA/PRAPER/2010/01

CFT/EFSA/PRAPER/2010/01

finished:

MOs_as_PPP Literature search and data collection on RA for human health for microorganisms used as plant protection products

OC/EFSA/PRAS/2013/02

ALPHA Preparatory work for the pest categorization of 3 bacteria listed in the annexes of the Council directive 2000/29/EC

NP/EFSA/ALPHA/2014/06-CT01

DATA2014 Re-coding of the food descriptors of EFSA Chemical Occurrence Database and Food Consumption Database entries according to the FoodEx2 food classification and description system

NP/EFSA/DATA/2014/02

BIOMO2013 Updating and revising the historical datasets in EFSA's Zoonoses databases

OC/EFSA/BIOMO/2013/01 LOT 2

CaSPeRL Case studies for the application of the Guidance of EFSA on Submission of scientific peer-reviewed open literature for the approval of pesticide active substances under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, using substances for which dossiers are submitted under Regulation (EU) No 1141/2010

CFP/EFSA/PRAS/2012/01

BIOHAZARD EFSA2 Food of plant origin with low water content (such as seeds, nuts, cereals, and spices): production methods Food of Plant Origin: Production methods and microbiological hazards linked to foodborne disease.”

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EFSA Studies

BIOMO-Zoonosendatenübermittlung

Implementation and testing of electronic submission in XML format of zoonoses, zoonotic agents, animal population, antimicrobial resistance and food-borne outbreaks data in the European Union

CFP/EFSA/BIOMO/2011/01

PRIMA PHACIE EFSA: Pest risk assessment for the European Community plant health: A comparative approach with case studies

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--- Impact of metabolic and degradation processes on the toxicological properties of residues of pesticides in food commodities - Tox. Residues of pesticides in food commodities

CFP/EFSA/PPR/2008/02

WRAPSTUN Entwicklung von Risikobewertungsrichtlinien für das Töten und Betäuben von Tieren

CFP/EFSA/AHAW/2007/01

--- Development of a standard food classification and data model as a basis for the collection of chemical occurrence data (LMSVG; GESG)

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3. Agricultural experimentatio

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Field trials

Technical experimentationGreenhouses – quarantine cabinstissue cultures/lysimeter

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Tirol

VorarlbergSalzburg

Tirol

Kärnten

Burgen-land

Fuchsenbigl

Gleisdorf

Hörzendorf

Schönfeld

. Dt. Jahrndorf

Weiz

Gießhübl

RitzlhofJetzing

Taufkirchen

Gumpenstein

TulbingPummersdorf/Hofing

Kilb

St. Andrä

Kalsdorf

Kappel

Völkermarkt

Experimentation stations

Fluttendorf

EltendorfPaurach

Hatzendorf

AndauAlbrechtsfeld

Frauenkirchen

Nikitsch

St. Andrä

Tadten

Absdorf

Ebergassing

Gaisruck

Gerhaus/Pachfurth/

Nickelsdorf

Mallon

Melk

Neuaigen

Pottendorf

Pultendorf/PrinzersdorfPhyra

Dietach

Mitterbachham

Naarn

Niederabsdorf

Blaustauden

Eichhorn

Hohenau

Trials in test stationsField trials

Enns

Wartberg

AlkovenBreitbrunn

Bierbaum Stang

EichfeldStrass

Weinberg

Wieselburg

StaasdorfTulln

WolfpassingWeikendorf

Fraham

Weißkirchen

AuthalKobenz

Söding

St. Georgen

Unterwölbling

Unterwaltersdorf/Schranawand

Winklhof

Petzenkirchen

RossaRamsauWurmbrand

Pehendorf

Zinsenhof

Reidling Zissersdorf

RutzendorfBreitstettenHaringsee

Stammersdorf

Linz

FreistadtGroßnondorf

AGES Wien

Grabenegg

Experimentation stations

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Lysimeter - Research facility for soils

Sandy Chernozem Deep Chernozem Moisty Black Soil

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Lysimeter – Status quo

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Lysimeter – Measuring systems

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4. Scientific Cooperation

National Scientific Cooperation:

• ÖGE -Österreichische Gesellschaft für Ernährung (2008)

• BMLFUW und ECPGR (2012): Forschungskooperation

• BOKU (2012):  Forschungskooperation

• B5 soilcompetence.at: AGES, UBA, BFW, BAW, BOKU (2005/2013): gemeinsame Projektakquisition und –abwicklung

• VET Austria: BMG - VetMedUni (2013): Forschungsrahmen zu 6 konkreten Forschungsfragen

• FHG – Zentrum für Gesundheitsberufe Tirol GmbH (2007): FH-Praktikumsstellen

• LTER-Austria: Austrian Society for Long-term Ecological Research

• CSF - Campus Science Support Facilities GmbH

International Scientific Cooperation:

• Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Germany (BfR) - 2006

• Kalite Sistem Laboratories Group, Turkey (KSL) - 2003

• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), EC, Focal Point - 2007

• Centre for Disease Control, Taiwan - 2007

• National Institute of Public Health Maribor (ZZV Maribor) – 2008

• German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ), Germany

• European Commission - Directorate General for Health and Consumer Affairs

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): Agriculture and Biotechnology -2004

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4. Scientific Cooperation

European and international partners of AGES in official and regulatory matters:

• European Commission, Brussels

• EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), Parma

• ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control), Stockholm

• EMA (European Medicines Agency), London

• FVO (Food and Veterinary Office of the European Union), Dublin

• Codex Alimentarius Commission established by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and WHO (World Health Organization)

• EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization), Paris

• JRC (Joint Research Centre of the European Commission), Ispra

• Sister institutions in the various EU countries

Research networks:

• CCCA – Climate Change Centre Austria (2011)

• BIOS Science Austria (2012)

• VDLUFA – Association of German Agricultural Analytic and Research Institutes

• IOBC - International Organisation for Biological and Integrated Control) / WPRS (West Palaearctic Regional Section)

• ALVA – Alliance for Life Sciences, Food, Veterinary Expertise and Agriculture

• Foodsecurity.at

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Business Areas

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Business Area Food Security

• Seeds & Potato plant material• Plant varieties• Plant genetic resources • Soil health & Plant nutrition• Plant protection products• Plant health• Feeding stuffs• Apiculture• Specific analytics • Agricultural experimentation• Marketing standards

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Agricultural Reference Laboratories and collections•National Phytosanitary Laboratory•Official Seed Testing Laboratory•Official Testing Laboratory for Potato Varieties•National Seed Bank•National Variety List•National Gene Bank for cereals and legumes

Specific laboratories•Soil Laboratory•Laboratory for feeding stuffs

National Reference Laboratories

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Business Area Food Safety

Main tasks

•Appraisal of food samples•Generating control plans for food inspection•Expertise for Codex Alimentarius and politics•Consumer goods and cosmetics•Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)•Novel food•Analytics and National Reference Laboratories

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Analytics

• Biochemistry• Pesticide residues• Veterinary drugs & hormones• Chemistry cluster (PAHs, vitamins & bio-

monitoring, mycotoxines)• Elements (trace elements & heavy

metals, fertilizer & plant analysis)

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Business Area Radiation ProtectionMain tasks

•Emergency preparedness and planning•Monitoring of environmental radioactivity •Monitoring of nuclear facilities•Radiation protection & radiochemistry•Radioecology & radon

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Business Area Public Health

Main tasks

•Medical microbiology•Hygiene•Food borne diseases•Infectious diseases•Epidemology•Water (bathing, mineral and drinking waters)•National Reference Centres

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• Milk and milk products

• Zoonosis (salmonella)

• Marine biotoxines

• Monitoring the viral and bacteriological containment of bivalve molluscs

• Listeria monocytogenes

• Staphylococcus

• E. coli

• Campylobacter

• Parasites (in particular Trichinella,Echinococcus and Anisakis) Antimicrobial resistance

• Animal proteins in feedingstuffs

• Residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in food of animal

• Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy’s (TSEs)

• Additives for use in animal nutrition

• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

• Material intended to come into contact with foodstuffs

• Residues of Pesticides

• Cereals and feeding stuffs

• Food of animal origin and commodities with high fat content

• Fruits and vegetables, including commodities with high water and high acid content

• Single residue methods

• Heavy metals in feed

• Heavy metals in food

• Mycotoxins

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

• Dioxins and PCBs in feed and food

• Water content in poultry meat

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National Reference Laboratories(acc. Regulation EC 882/2004, NRL for feed and food)

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Business Area Animal Health

Main tasks •Animal disease control•Zoonoses•High security laboratories L3+•Reference Laboratories

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National Reference Laboratories(acc. Regulation EC 882/2004 & OIE, NRL for animal health and live animals)• Classical swine fever

• African horse sickness

• Avian influenza

• Newcastle disease

• Swine vesicular disease

• Fish disease

• Bivalve Mollusc Diseases

• Rabies

• Bluetongue

• African swine fever

• Foot-and mouth disease

• Brucellosis

• Equine infectious anaemia

• Crustacean diseases

• Bovine Tuberculosis

• Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSEs)

• Bovine viral diarrhoea

• Aujeszky’s disease

• Psittacosis

• Enzootic bovine leucosis

• Peste des petits ruminants

• Vesicular stomatitis

• Lumpy skin disease

• Sheep and goat pox

• Rift valley fever

• Rinderpest

• Glanders

• Dourine

• Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/Infectious pustular vulvovaginitis

• Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, Porcine Teschovirus

• Para–tuberculosis

• Swine vesicular disease

• Parasites and p. zoonosis

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Business AreaMedicines & Medical Devices Agency

Main tasks•Pharmacovigilance •Official Medicines Control Laboratory•Market authorization & Lifecycle management•Inspections, medical devices, haemovigilance•Science & Innovation

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BMG(Federal Ministry of Health)

Regional and local authorities

BMLFUW(Federal Ministry of Agriculture,

Forestry, Environment and Water Management)

BAES(Federal Office for Food Safety)

Food and Feed Safety Authorities in Austria

AGES(Austrian Agency for Health

and Food Safety)

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Federal Office for Food Safety (BAES)

Authority for implementation of following acts:

• Seeds Act• Plant propagating materials Act• Plant varieties Act• Plant protection products Act• Plant health Act• Feeding stuff Act• Fertilizers Act• Marketing standards Act

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Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG)

Authority for implementation of following acts:

• Austrian medicines Act• Medicinal products import Act• Blood safety Act• Medical devices Act• Compulsory prescription Act• Austrian tissue safety Act• Inspections according to the addictive drug

Act

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AGES Services

AGES Academy Training, further training and information eventsContact: akademie@ages.at

Product warnings Information on product recalls and product warnings per email or RSS feed (Subscription: www.ages.at)

Folders & BrochuresSpecial information & consumer tips (Order or download: www.ages.at)

AGES NewsletterSpecial information & consumer tips per email (Subscription: www.ages.at)

AGES in Social Networks

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Further requests!

Contact: Dr.Dr. Alois LeidweinAustrian Agency for Health and Food SafetyResearch Coordination, Knowledge Transfer, AGES Academy cooperation@ages.at www.ages.at