Control and quality of the inspection

Quality strategies
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has quality strategies for the inspections, one for the food inspection and one for the veterinary inspections.

The key elements in the strategies are the development of the competences of the inspectors, inspection values and quality supervision. There are also inspection principles.

Internal control in the regions
It is important that the inspections have the same effect no matter which inspector does the inspection. The regions therefore follow the inspectors work and development in several ways.

Reports made by the inspector are sometimes checked and quality supervisions are performed.

Quality supervision is a supervision where the nearest superior follows an inspector during inspections. The objectives are to check whether the inspection in practice corresponds to the quality requirements for the inspection and to create dialogue on a specific task performance.

After the inspection and away from the establishments the supervisor and the inspector discuss and evaluate the inspections. They make a report reflecting the agreements concerning skills enhancement etc.

50 % of the inspectors are quality supervised each year.

The head office control of the regions
The head office of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration follows how well the regions reach the targets mentioned in the “results contract”. It is followed throughout the year so it is possible to put extra effort in areas being behind the goals.

The head office performs supervision of the regions. Annually or every second year there are supervision visits in the regions. It is examined if the regions follow the guidelines and if the regions make good management of their fields of responsibility.

A report with the main findings and results is published on the DVFA Danish homepage http://www.fvst.dk/ - supervision. The regions are responsible for following up on the recommendations or identified deficiencies. The supervision team follows up on recommendations and requests.

The DVFA head office also checks samples of inspection reports in order to ensure clarity, consistency and legal accuracy.

The External Audit Unit
The External Audit Unit belongs to the department of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. According to the Danish Food Act the unit examines whether the food control is carried out in accordance with legislation, control plans and strategies and in an economic manner.

The audit unit reports to The Commission for Food Control. The Commission for Food Control consists of 6 members as experts in food control matters. The Minister appoints the members on the basis of nominations made by the Danish Consumer Council and the principal Danish food industry organisations.

The Commission on Food Control must approve the audit plans. There is one audit programme containing the annual audit, based on a five year rolling plan and specific audits, based on separate audit plans.

The reports are published on the homepage of the department of the Ministry, www.fvm.dk. - Revisionsenheden, rapporter 

EU Commission
The Food and Veterinary Office belonging to the EU Commission performs missions in all EU Member States.

The EU Commission checks if the rules and inspection of food, animal health and animal health are done in accordance with the EU rules.

The missions may be focused on certain foodstuffs or more horizontal issues.