1. Veterinary and food safety services in Italy
Ministry of Health
Veterinary and food safety services in Italy
GENERAL SEGRETARIAT
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2. ORGANIZATION OF THE VETERINARY AND FOOD SAFETY SERVICES IN ITALY
At national level most of the competencies for animal health, food and feed safety and animal welfare are assigned to the Ministry of Health (MS)
Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Agriculture, Foodstuff and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF) is responsible for the traceability of food and feed.
Following an amendment to the Italian Constitution in 2001, health in general and, with it, animal health, food and feed safety and animal welfare, became matters of shared responsibility between the national and regional level.
Import controls, international prophylaxis and export are tasks reserved to the central government

3. ORGANIZATION OF THE VETERINARY AND FOOD SAFETY SERVICES IN ITALY
Ministry of Health
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
NATIONAL LEVEL
REGIONAL HEALTH
SERVICES
(19 REGIONS and 2 PROVINCES)
REGIONAL LEVEL
LOCAL HEALTH
UNITS “ASL”
(139 ASLs)
LOCAL LEVEL

4. VETERINARY AND FOOD SAFETY SERVICES IN ITALY
Minister of Health
Ministry of Health
National
Health
Institute
General Segretariat and CVO
Police
for
Health
Uvac Offices
(Veterinary Offices
For Community
Affairs)
ANIMAL HEALTH &
VETERINARY
MEDICINE PRODUCTS
GENERAL
DIRECTORATE
FOOD SAFETY
AND
NUTRITION
GENERAL
DIRECTORATE
U.S.M.A.F.
(Air and Sea Health
Offices)
Border
Inspection
Posts
Istituti
Zooprofilattici
Sperimentali
Regional Health
Service
Local Health Units

5. RESEARCH COORDINATION SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY PERSONNEL ORGANIZATION
OFFICE I
GENERAL AFFAIRS
General Segretariat
and CVO
OFFICE II
RESEARCH COORDINATION
OF II.ZZ.SS: TRAINING
AND CO-ORDINATION
OFFICES
Ministry of Health
OFFICE III
INTERNATIONAL
EPIDEMIOLOGY
GENERAL
DIRECTORATES
PREVENTIVE HEALTH
CARE
MEDICINE PRODUCTS
ANIMAL HEALT &
VETERINARY
FOOD SAFETY
NUTRITION
AND
COLLEGIAL BODIES
FOR HEALTH
PROTECTION
HEALTH PLANNING
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
AND HUMAN RESOURCES
OF THE NATIONAL
HEALTH SERVICE
FOR HEALTH PROTECTION
COLLEGIAL BODIES
MEDICAL DEVICES AND
PHARMACEUTICAL
SERVICE
INNOVATION IN HEALTH
RESEARCH AND
SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY
AND SAFETY OF CARE
DIGITIZATION HEALTH
INFORMATION SYSTEM
AND STATISTIC
PERSONNEL ORGANIZATION
AND
BUDGET

6. Animal Health & Veterinary Medical Products General Directorate
Ministry of Health
Office I
General Affairs
Office II
Animal Health and Animal Identification
Office III
Operational Management of the “National Centre for Animal DiseaseControl” and
“Central Crisis Unit”
Office IV
Veterinary Medical Products and Medical Devices for Veterinary Use
Office V
Manufacturing Veterinary Medical Products and Medical Devices for Veterinary Use GMP Inspections
Office VI
Animal Welfare
Office VII
Products for Animal Feeding
Office VIII
BIP and UVAC Coordination

7. Ministry of Health Food Safety and Nutrition General Directorate
Office I
General Affairs
Office II
General food hygiene
Office III
Products of animal origin hygiene
Office IV
Foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses – foods supplement novel food
Office V
Human Nutrition, Healthy diet promotion labelling
Office VI
Food technology hygiene
Office VII
Phytosanitary products
Office VIII
Plans of food chain control System management of food alert
Office IX
Foodstuffs export
Office IX ex DGSAF
Audit

8. Ministry of Health COLLEGIAL BODIES FOR HEALTH PROTECTION
GENERAL DIRECTORATE
Ministry of Health
Office I
General Affairs
Office II
Phisical-chemical and biologic risk
Office III
Relations with consumers
Office IV
Secretary’s office of “National Food Safety Committee”

9. Ministry of Health BIPs IN ITALY
The italian Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) are 23.
According to Community legislation they check animals, food of animal origin and feedingstuff directed to Italy or to other 28 EU Countries.
They are placed under the Italian Ministry of Health authority and under EU (F.V.O.) supervision.
The official controls include at least a systematic documentary check, identity check and, as appropriate, a physical check.
Ministry of Health

10. Ministry of Health BIPs IN ITALY Products Live Animals Malpensa
Trieste
Torino
Bergamo
Venezia
Genova
Bologna
La Spezia
Savona
Ravenna
Civitavecchia
Pisa Livorno
Ancona
Fiumicino
Bari
Salerno
Products
Napoli
Taranto
Gioia Tauro
Palermo
Live Animals
Trapani

11. Ministry of Health BIPs IN ITALY Port Airport Bergamo Malpensa Trieste
Torino
Venezia
Genova
Bologna
Savona
Civitavecchia
Ravenna
La Spezia
Ancona
Fiumicino
Pisa Livorno
Bari
Salerno
Taranto
Port
Napoli
Gioia Tauro
Airport
Palermo
Trapani

12. (Veterinary Offices for Intracomunitary Trade)
UVAC
(Veterinary Offices for Intracomunitary Trade)
Ministry of Health
The 17 UVACs are in charge for the surveillance on
intracommunity trade on animals, food of animal origin and feedingstuffs.
They were set up in 1993 after the phasing out of the intracommunity Borders with France and other EU Countries. Their most important tasks are:
surveillance on intracommunity trade on animals, food of animal origin and feedingstuffs in cooperation with Regions and AUSL
put in force of intracommunity trade restrictions in cooperation with Regions and AUSL
assistance to Regions and AUSL in intracommunity trade legislation and claims

13. (Veterinary Offices for Intracomunitary Trade)
UVAC
(Veterinary Offices for Intracomunitary Trade)
Trentino
A. Adige
Lombardia
Friuli
V. Giulia
Ministry of Health
Valle d’Aosta
Veneto
Piemonte
Emilia Romagna
Marche / Umbria
Abruzzo / Molise
Liguria
Toscana
Roma
Puglia
Lazio
Sardegna
Calabria
Campania /
Basilicata
Sicilia

14. (Air and Sea Health Offices)
USMAF
(Air and Sea Health Offices)
Ministry of Health
The Air and Sea Health Offices (USMAF) are 12 with 34 local units at the main ports and airports.
They are responsible for controls on imported food of non animal origin.

15. Regional Health Services
Bolzano
The 19 regions and 2 autonomous provinces have responsibility, within their territories, for planning, co-ordination, guidance, authorisation, and verification of controls.
Institutional co-operation between the central government and the regions takes place in the permanent forum of the State-Regions Conference.
In each Region there is a Regional Veterinary Service (RVS) which is normally part of the Regional Public Health Services (Servizi di Sanità Pubblica delle Regioni) (RPHS).
The internal organisation of the RPHS differs between regions (e.g. in Tuscany the veterinary services form an independent organisational unit as regards public health, and in one of the two autonomous provinces the veterinary service is subject to the Provincial Agriculture Authority).
The RVS have a co-ordination function while the implementation of controls is done at local level by inspectors employed in the AUSL
Trento
FRIULI
V.GIULIA
V.AOSTA
LOMBARDIA
VENETO
Ministry of Health
PIEMONTE
EMILIA ROMAGNA
LIGURIA
TOSCANA
MARCHE
UMBRIA
ABRUZZO
LAZIO
MOLISE
CAMPANIA
PUGLIA
SARDEGNA
BASILICATA
CALABRIA
SICILIA

16. LOCAL HEALTH UNITS OF EMILIA ROMAGNA REGION
The Local Health Units (AUSL) are public bodies responsible at local level for the organisation and management of all public health services.
The AUSL have a high degree of managerial, administrative, financial and technical autonomy. They are organised in sanitary districts, departments of preventions and hospital services.
Veterinary and food safety responsibilities are shared between two separate services within the Department of Prevention: the Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service (Servizi Igiene degli Alimenti e della Nutrizione) (SIAN), and the Local Veterinary Services (Servizi Veterinari Locali) (LVS).
Ministry of Health

17. Structure Ministry of Health Local Health Units LOCAL HEALTH UNIT
DEPARTMENT OF
PREVENTION
OTHER DEPARTMENTS
VETERINARY
SERVICES
“A” area
Animal Health
B” area Inspection and Control of Food of Animal Origin
“C” Area
Hygiene of animal Husbandry and of farming Production
FOOD HYGIENE
AND NUTRITION
SERVICE
Ministry of Health
Structure

18. Local Veterinary Services Food Hygiene and Nutrition Services
The LVS are responsible for animal health, animal welfare, food of animal origin and feedingstuffs and are organised into 3 different areas:
area A - responsible for animal health;
area B – responsible for food of animal origin;
area C – responsible for animal breeding and animal productions.
The distinction between areas of activity is not always present in all the AUSL and the allocation of resources may vary according to the AUSL.
The majority of inspectors in the LVS are veterinarians. Approximately a total of veterinarians are employed in the 148 AUSL.
Ministry of Health
Food Hygiene and Nutrition Services
The SIAN is responsible for food of non animal origin.
Within the SIAN some staff are medical doctors, but the majority are technicians with a second level diploma. The staff in charge of control activities are specifically designated to that purpose, whereas other staff are involved also in other public health activities.

19. Police for Health (NAS)
Ministry of Health
The NAS are a special branch of the Carabinieri. Although hierarchically linked to the Carabinieri, they operate under the supervision and direction of the Ministry of Health.
The NAS are organised into a central Command, with 3 field offices and 38 territorial inspection units.
The NAS are responsible for investigations and controls on illegal adulteration of foodstuffs, fraud and illegal trafficking of medicines.
They may perform controls and investigations on their own initiative or on request from the offices of the Ministry of Health.
Approximately 1,000 staff are employed by the NAS. Most of these are warrant officers with specific technical training. On average 50% of their time is dedicated to food safety inspections.

20. Ministry of Health ISTITUTI ZOOPROFILATTICI SPERIMENTALI (IZS)
TORINO
BRESCIA
PADOVA
PERUGIA
TERAMO
FOGGIA
PALERMO
SASSARI
ROMA
PORTICI
The IZSs are veterinary pubblic health institutes which provide a network of public laboratories at national and regional level.
There are 10 IZS, with approximately 85 field diagnostic units at provincial level.
Each IZS covers one or more Regions.
Ministry of Health
ZOOPROPHILACTIC INSTITUTES
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH

21. DIAGNOSTIC UNITS AT PROVINCIAL LEVEL
Ministry of Health

22. IZS’s Tasks Ministry of Health
Diagnosis of animal diseases and human transmissible pathologies
Epidemiological surveillance in animal health, animal production and food of animal origin hygiene
Research on animal health and welfare, infections animal diseases, zoonosis, food and feed safety
Training of specialised personnel on zooprophylaxis and training of veterinarians and other health operators
Support and assistance to breeders in controlling and eradicating infectious diseases and developing and improving animal production
Each IZS can be National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for one on more animal diseases or for food safety issues
At the international level some IZS has been aknowledged as FAO or O.I.E. or WHO Reference Laboratory
Ministry of Health

23. NATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORIES Buffaloes productions
Rabies
Salmonellosis
Avian influenza and Newcastle disease
Fish diseases
Bee diseases
Animal-human disease interface research
Pet therapy
Wildlife diseases
Neuropatologies and
comparative encephalopaties
Oncology
Feedingstuffs
BRESCIA
PADOVA
Ministry of Health
TORINO
Tuberculosis
Paratuberculosis
Aujeszky disease
Animal welfare
Tularemia
Chlamydiosis
Leptospirosis
cow milk quality
Cell substrates
FMD and Vesicular diseases
Lagomorpha viral diseases
Training for veterinary public
health
Enzootic Bovine Leukosis and
other retrovirus
CSF, ASF, pestivirus and asfivirus
Microbiological and chemical
contamination on live bivalv molluscs
PERUGIA
TERAMO
Epidemiology and risk analysis
Exotic diseases
Brucellosis
Blue Tongue
Dioxine and PCB
Campylobacter spp.
Listeria monocytogenes
ROMA
FOGGIA
Biological zootechnologies
Echinococcosis-hydatidosis
Ovine and caprine
mastopathies
SASSARI
PORTICI
Anthrax
Detection of radioactivity
in veterinary medicine and
animal husbandry
Equine diseases
Equine infectious anaemia
OGM
Antibiotic Resistance
Sheep and goats milk and products
quality
Legal Veterinary Medicine
PALERMO
Buffaloes productions
Leishmaniosis
Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Rickettsia, Theileriosis
Toxoplasmosis
Anisakis

24. INTERNATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORIES
TORINO
BRESCIA
PADOVA
PERUGIA
TERAMO
FOGGIA
PALERMO
SASSARI
ROMA
PORTICI
OIE/FAO – Avian influenza and Newcasle disease
OIE – Viral encephalopaty
OIE – collaboration for animal-human
interface research
OIE – Salmonellosis
OIE – collaboration for training on
emerging poultry diseases
Ministry of Health
OIE/FAO – Swine Vesicular Disease
OIE – Rabbit Haemorrhagic disease
FAO – Food and mouth disease
OIE – Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia
OIE – Brucellosis
OIE – Blutongue
OIE – West Nile Disease
EU- parassites
EU – E. coli
EU - Chemical elements
In food of animal origin

25. National Health Institute (iss)
At national level, the National Health Institute (Istituto Superiore di Sanità) (ISS) is the leading technical and scientific body of the Italian National Health Service.
The ISS supervises the laboratories of the Italian National Health Service engaged in food control and performs confirmatory analysis.
Its activities include research, control, training and consultation in the interest of public health protection.
An important activity of the Institute, which is carried out on behalf of the Minister of Health or the regions, is inspection and quality control of food products and packaging.
The ISS includes the EU Reference Laboratories for Escheria coli, (including verotoxigenic E. coli) for parasites (in particular Trichinella, Echinococcus and Anisakis) and for the residues listed in annex I, group B 3(c) to Directive 96/23/EC.
Ministry of Health

26. Thank you for your attention.
Ministry of Health