The main task of the veterinarians and food inspectors working in this area, who are supported by administrative staff, is to protect

• citizens from health hazards and damage to health
• from being misled and deceived by food, products of animal origin and everyday objects.

This always involves monitoring the safety of food and consumer goods. The employees check whether, for example, basic hygiene rules are followed in the production or preparation of food or whether additives (e.g. allergens) in food and drinks are properly indicated on menus, etc. To this end, they are out and about in restaurants, bistros, food businesses, supermarkets, retail outlets in drugstores or at weekly markets to provide advice and carry out checks.

Why is this task so important?
If, for example, the basic hygiene requirements for food are not met, they can be adversely affected. Food that is contaminated with germs or harmful substances can be harmful to health and cause illness. Even everyday items can be harmful to health.

Ana Greta Coordes, head of the department, explains: "Every citizen wants to be able to put a toothbrush in their mouth without having to worry about their health being adversely affected. This and much more is exactly what consumer protection does. In order to ensure that, among other things, the food on sale is not harmful to health, the food monitoring staff also regularly take samples, which are then tested by a laboratory for germs and harmful substances, for example. If a laboratory test shows that a foodstuff does not meet the required standard, for example if mold has been found, the foodstuff is recalled to the extent of the "sampled batch".

The responsibilities of the Veterinary Services Division include, among other things, animal welfare, animal disease control, veterinary drugs, and the disposal of animal by-products.

Animal welfare aims to protect the lives and well-being of animals (pets and farm animals) and to prevent suffering. It also serves to maintain and improve the quality of food of animal origin.

This involves monitoring compliance with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act (opens in a new tab) as well as other laws and regulations concerning animal welfare (e.g., the size and design of a cow barn).

Animal disease control measures are intended to prevent and combat diseases, particularly animal diseases transmissible to humans (zoonoses), as well as to protect humans from dangers and harm caused by animal diseases (such as the spread of rabies and, where applicable, its transmission to humans).

The disposal of animal carcasses is responsible for overseeing the disposal of animal carcasses (as the title suggests), parts of animal carcasses, and animal products in order to prevent risks to human and animal health as well as the spread of pathogens causing communicable diseases and toxic substances.

The Compliance Division is also responsible for monitoring compliance with the provisions of the Lower Saxony Law on Dog Ownership (opens in a new tab). This law uniformly regulates the obligations of all dog owners in Lower Saxony.