DVFA responsibilities in Greenland
- Food establishments: authorization, registration/approval, control and inspection of the establishments (including factory vessels) that has trade out of Greenland.
- Feed Establishments: authorization, registration/approval, control and inspection of the establishments.
- Establishments that process and/or handle animal waste (animal by-products): authorization, approval, control and inspection of the establishments.
- Infectious animal diseases/zoo sanitary area: monitoring of and combating infectious diseases except zoonotic diseases such as rabies etc.
- Animal health requirements: in relation to import of live animals and animal products.
- Animal health attestations: when trading nonfood products of animal origin and live animals out of Greenland.
- Products of animal origin and products under restriction: when products are traded in or out of Greenland.
- Products of non-animal origin: in relation to import of products under restriction.
- Veterinary practice, veterinarian rights and duties: including monitoring of rights and duties.
- Veterinary medicinal products: use of medicinal products and ban of certain drugs, including sera, vaccines etc., that can affect animal health conditions.
The DVFA is responsible for implementing relevant legislation and coordinating controls. The DVFA Food Inspection Unit NorthEast and Veterinary Inspection Unit North are responsible for carrying out the controls and inspections in Greenland.
About Greenland
Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
In 1979 the Home Rule Act of Greenland was established. Since then the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark and the Government of Greenland has closely cooperated on issues concerning the veterinary and food area.
The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark, Danish Food and Veterinary Administration (DVFA) is the competent authority when trade in and out of Greenland in regards to the veterinary and food area.
The Government of Greenland and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark has entered into an agreement with the European Commission.
This agreement (EU Counsel Decision of June 28th 2011) resulted in Greenland being considered part of the EU in relation to the below mentioned products, and that Greenlandic establishments with trade in and out of Greenland with these products are subject to relevant EU legislation.
Greenland has since April 5th 2014 been considered part of the EU-intracommunity trade area for the following products:
- Fish and fishery products
- Live bivalve molluscs
- Echinoderms
- Tunicatas and sea snails
- Biproducts of the above and products produced from these biproducts