Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food

Minister



Milan Pogačnik

Dr Milan Pogačnik

 

Milan Pogačnik was born on 30 August 1946 in Celje. In 1971, he graduated from the Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Animal Science. After obtaining his MSc and PhD degrees in the field of pathological morphology, he was elected Assistant Professor at the University of Ljubljana in 1984, Associate Professor in 1989 and Professor in 1994.

 

During his 33 years of work in the animal science field, Prof Pogačnik has participated in the preparation of the Agricultural Development Strategy as well as laws and regulations on animal science and animal husbandry. In the past few years, he has developed an interdisciplinary research and development group which prepares research and technological programmes for the sustainable use of abandoned agricultural land with the use of animals, especially in Karst areas. These technologies are already being successfully implemented in certain other countries, including China where he received the highest award of the People’s Republic of China for a foreign scientist in 2008. As a national co-ordinator, he has participated in various development projects in the EU.

 

Successfully heading the Veterinary Faculty, he contributed to the verification of study programmes according to EU standards and to bringing the most demanding veterinary activities in Slovenia together within the one institution in 2000/2001. In addition to being the Dean of the Veterinary Faculty since 1990, he was also President of the University of Ljubljana Executive Board, Governor of VetNEST, a member of the Executive Board of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education, the President of the Veterinary Council at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia, and advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia, and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia.

 

Since 2007, he has been a member of the EFSA Executive Board. He is also a member of the ECVAM Scientific Advisory Committee and a standing member of the Slovenian delegation at the annual General Session of the OIE (Office International Epizootie) in Paris. 

 

 

State Secretary



Sonja Bukovec

Sonja Bukovec, MSc

 

Sonja Bukovec was born on 11 December 1954. She graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Business in Maribor. In 1996, she obtained the title of certified government auditor, and in 2000 her master's degree, from the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana. In 2003, she qualified as an internal government auditor at the Ministry of Finance.

 

She gained her first professional experience at Ljubljanska banka, where she worked as a branch manager and internal auditor. Between 1993 and 1997 she was an auditor in the Banking Supervision Department of the Bank of Slovenia. Between 1997 and 2000 she was Director-General of the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Restructuring and Privatisation, after which she took up the position of an advisor to the State Secretary, and head of the Budget Department at the Ministry of Finance. Between 2001 and 2005 she was Director-General of the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Agricultural Markets and Rural Development, and in 2005 and 2006, a certified auditor of the ITEO auditing company.

 

Sonja Bukovec possesses extensive knowledge of public administration, finance, and budgetary and auditing procedures. Under her directorship the Paying Agency obtained SAPARD accreditation and full EAGGF accreditation. She also gained professional experience abroad. In 2006, she took up the post of a resident project advisor in the Austrian company Agrar Markt. In 2008, before she took over as State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, she worked as a team leader in the Macedonian company Agroconsulting. She has extensive knowledge of the agricultural processing industry and a thorough understanding of the situation of agriculture and rural areas in the Balkans.

 

She is the author of several publications, has successfully presented the Slovenian privatisation process in Italy, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Russia, and has lectured on the establishment, functioning and tasks of the Paying Agency.

 

 

Organisation

Minister:

Dr Milan Pogačnik

Phone: + 386 1 478 91 02

Fax: + 386 1 478 90 13

E-mail: milan.pogacnik[@]gov.si

 

State Secretary:

Sonja Bukovec, MSc

Phone: +386 1 478 91 03

fax:  +386 1 478 90 13

E- mail: sonja.bukovec[@]gov.si


Minister's Office

Head:

Elena Del Fabro

Phone: +386 1 478 91 05

fax: +386 1 478 90 13

e-mail: elena.del-fabro[@]gov.si

 

Secretary-General:

Jože Sečnik, MSc

Phone: +386 1 478 90 29

fax: +386 1 478 90 21

e-mail: joze.secnik[@]gov.si

 

Public Relations:

Jernej Kovač

Phone: +386 1 478 91 63

fax: 01/478 90 13

e-mail: jernej.kovac[@]gov.si

 

Sašo Vöröš

Phone: +386 1 478 93 92

fax: 01/478 90 13

e-mail: saso.voros[@]gov.si

  


Directorates

Agriculture Directorate

Dunajska 58, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 478 91 17

fax: +386 1 478 90 35

 

Director-General: Branko Ravnik

e-mail: branko.ravnik[@]gov.si

 

Food Safety Directorate

Dunajska 58, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 478 91 26

fax: +386 1 478 90 55

 

Director-General: Matjaž Kočar

e-mail: gp.mkgp[@]gov.si

 

Forestry, Hunting and Fishing Directorate

Dunajska 58, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 478 91 44

fax: +386 1 436 20 48

 

Director-General: Andrej Drašler

e-mail: andrej.drasler[@]gov.si

 

 

Main Areas of Activity

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food handles affairs relating to the following areas: agriculture; forestry; ensuring food safety, including food processing and industrial production; supplementary activities of farms and rural tourism; veterinary medicine; hunting and fishing; agricultural land, forests and forest space; forest reserves; wild animals; the sustainable development of forest ecosystems and their integrated protection; integrated rural planning and development; promoting Government investment in forests and in rural areas; food-related issues from the viewpoint of production and processing capacities and requirements; the production of healthy agricultural and livestock products and foodstuffs; the production of quality wood and other forestry products; the co-formation of price and protection policies for agricultural, forestry and food products; the social status of farmers; agricultural, forestry, fishing and other cooperatives. 

 

 

Bodies affiliated to the Ministry

Agency for Agricultural Markets and Rural Development

Dunajska cesta 160, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 580 77 92

Fax: +386 1 478 92 06

e-mail: aktrp[@]gov.si

Internet: www.arsktrp.gov.si/en 

 

Director-General: Benedikt Jeranko

e-mail: benedikt.jeranko[@]gov.si

 

The Agency of the RS for Agricultural Markets and Rural Development (ARSKTRP) was set up to implement the agricultural policy reform programmes, adapt to the EU Common Agricultural Policy and disburse SAPARD pre-accession aid. The Agency is one of the key institutions in securing European and national budget funds for preserving and developing Slovenian rural areas and strengthening agricultural markets. Since 1 May 2004 the Agency has had the role of a paying agency for managing and disbursing European funds from the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. It acquired the status of an accredited payment agency on 19 October 2004.

 

The Agency performs tasks relating to the implementation of measures in the areas of agriculture, forestry, foodstuffs and fisheries in accordance with national policy and the EU Common Agricultural Policy. On 1 May 2004 the Agency completed the implementation of the SAPARD programme and began implementing new measures (measures of the Single Programming Document 2004-2006; measures of the Rural Development Programme 2004-2006; trade measures – issuing import and export licences, managing security deposits, paying export refunds). Milk quotas were managed on a trial basis in 2004. The Agency implements around 100 accredited measures, mainly in the area of direct payments, where it makes payments per land area and number of animals, payments for less-favoured areas, and for measures of the Slovenian Agri-Environmental Programme, while also cooperating to effectively overcome the consequences of natural disasters for agriculture.

 

Tasks are carried out in the Agricultural Markets, Rural Development and Direct Payments Sections, and in the Financial, Control, General Affairs, Information Management and Technology, and Internal Audit Services. The Agency will also implement the new Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

 


Inspectorate for Agriculture, Forestry and Food

Parmova ulica 33, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 434 57 00

Fax: +386 1 434 57 17

e-mail: irskgh.mkgp[@]gov.si

 

Chief National Inspector: Saša Dragar Milanovič, MSc

e-mail: sasa.dragar[@]gov.si

 

The Inspectorate for Agriculture, Forestry and Food was established to supervise the implementation of laws and other regulations and acts within the operational sphere of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. The inspectorate supervises the implementation of acts, regulations and general acts on agriculture, the quality and labelling of agricultural products and food, the quality of mineral fertilisers, plant protection products (PPPs), seeds, propagating material, plant health, animal feed, wine, the safety, organisation and exploitation of agricultural land, financing, and other matters relating to arable farming. It also covers livestock breeding, fruit growing, viticulture, winemaking and hop growing, the import of plants and plant protection products, forestry, the cultivation and protection of forests, the acquisition of forest timber products and other forest products, the construction of forest transport routes, the quality of forest seed and seedlings, and other matters relating to forests and forest management. It also inspects and supervises hunting areas and fishery management, game breeding and hunting, fresh and sea water fisheries, the protection of wild animals and their habitats and other matters related to nature conservation.

 

The Inspectorate is divided into seven Inspection Services: Agriculture, Phytosanitary, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing, Feedstuffs, Quality Control of Agricultural Products, Food Inspection, and Winemaking Inspection Service.

 

Besides the Office of the Inspector General, all Inspection Services operate in eight regional units. The Phytosanitary Inspection Service also operates at seven border inspection posts registered for the import of plants, plant products and other regulated articles, for which phytosanitary control is required.

 


Phytosanitary Administration

Einspilerjeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: 059 152 030

Fax: 059 152 959

e-mail: furs.mkgp[@]gov.si

Internet: www.furs.si/en/Index.asp 

 

Director: Suzana Marolt

e-mail: suzana.marolt[@]gov.si

 

The Phytosanitary Administration of the RS (PARS) was established as the central authority in the phytosanitary field, responsible for co-ordination and the exchange of information with relevant services and official bodies, and for reporting to the EU.

 

PARS performs administrative, professional and development tasks in the fields of the protection of plants, plant products and of regulated articles from harmful organisms; the protection and registration of varieties of plants (property rights); the production, processing and marketing of agricultural seed and propagating material; conservation of agricultural plant genetic resources; the registration, marketing and use of plant protection products; the technical requirements for the equipment for the application of plant protection products; the quality of mineral fertilisers; the professional training of the liable persons; information dissemination to the public. Furthermore, it supervises and implements measures defined in the relevant regulations. PARS also manages a number of registers, records, and lists, keeps data records and carries out the development of Slovenia’s phytosanitary information system.

 

In accordance with Slovenia’s international obligations, PARS compiles reports, analysis, information and other documents, represents Slovenia in international organisations and the EU, and keeps the competent bodies of other countries informed on matters within its competence.

 


Veterinary Administration

Parmova ulica 53, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 300 13 00

Fax: +386 1 300 13 57

e-mail: vurs[@]gov.si

Internet: http://www.vurs.gov.si/en/ 

 

Director-General: Dr Vida Čadonič-Špelič, DVM

 

The Veterinary Administration of the RS (VARS) carries out the administrative tasks, and inspection and control in the veterinary sector. The most important administrative tasks include:

  • managing the register of animals and facilities at regional and national level in accordance with the regulations;
  • providing for the implementation of and organising the monitoring of residues in foodstuffs in animals and animal products and in animal feed;
  • providing for the implementation of annual analyses of monitoring results referred to in points 2, 3 and 4 of this Article, preparing risk assessments for risks posed to public and animal health and effects on the environment, and preparing annual reports;
  • introducing, developing and setting up of CIS at VARS;
  • organising and managing actions to prevent, suppress and eradicate animal diseases and zoonoses;
  • issuing compulsory instructions intended for the employees of VARS, approved veterinarians, official veterinary auxiliaries, and organisations granted concessions under VCCA and the Act governing veterinary activities;
  • carrying out preparations for the defence, protection and operation of veterinary services in time of war, natural and other catastrophes, and in emergencies;
  • carrying out the training of veterinary first aid units and civil defence units;
  • providing for the carrying out of immunity supervision;
  • providing for links between records, databases and registers under VCCA within a uniform information system;
  • providing for links of CIS at VARS with the international information systems within the veterinary sector;
  • monitoring the movement of certain animal diseases in the RS and abroad, and notifying all interested parties in the RS and abroad;
  • monitoring programmes, harmonising work and defining measures for the implementation of programmes of control and the prevention of the spread of certain animal diseases and epidemics;
  • monitoring and studying the epizootiological situation and taking measures in accordance with commitments taken up within the World Organisation for Animal Health–OIE and the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, and in accordance with the animal health programme of the RS, jointly with the veterinary organisations and the National Veterinary Institute of the Veterinary Faculty;
  • managing the prescribed records, registers and databases, issuing monthly reports on the movement of certain animal diseases in the RS, reporting as prescribed to the World Organisation for Animal Health–OIE, and notifying all interested parties in RS and abroad of the situation regarding certain diseases and on measures taken;
  • in case of epizooty and in other emergency situations, providing for the possibility of charging the veterinary staff and veterinary organisations with specific professional and other tasks;
  • providing for the implementation of regulations governing the veterinary sector and for the relevant training;
  • administrative supervision of the implementation of EU veterinary legislation in Slovenia;
  • managing the means required for animal health protection;
  • preparing regulations within the area of its activity;
  • authorising laboratories and designating national reference laboratories under the VCCA and managing the registers of laboratories;
  • preparing an annual training programme for registered veterinarians;
  • approving project documents for the reconstruction, substitutive construction, removal or construction of a new facility under veterinary control within the building permit application procedure.
    In addition to administrative tasks, VARS inspects and supervises the implementation of laws, regulations and other administrative provisions, and international agreements.

In the public interest VARS provides:

  • veterinary supervision of animal keepers and business operators as regards guaranteeing the safety of animal products and animal feed;
  • implementing measures of residue monitoring in animals, products and animal feed;
  • implementing measures and managing the prevention, suppression and eradication of animal diseases and zoonoses;
  • protecting the public against harmful effects resulting from foodstuffs, and the prevention and suppression of zoonoses;
  • overseeing the circulation of and trade in medicinal products as regards traceability;
  • supervising the use of medicinal products;
  • supervising the implementation of veterinary measures in livestock breeding as regards animal health, trade in and storage of animal semen, ova and embryos, fish roe, hatching eggs and honeybee queens, as regards the collection and processing of animal semen, ova and embryos and the health suitability of animal semen, ova and embryos;
  • overseeing the implementation of animal protection and welfare;
  • supervising the introduction of consignments into the territory of EU.

 

Within VARS, these tasks are implemented by the internal veterinary inspection service, divided between 10 Regional Units; and by the border veterinary inspection service, divided between 6 Border Inspection Posts (BIPs).

 

 


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