The Federal Office of Consumer Health(BAVG) was established by the Health and Food Safety Act - GESG (Federal Law Gazette I No. 63/2002 as amended). The BAVG is an agency directly subordinate to the BMASGPK and, in accordance with Section 6c (4) GESG, must use the resources available to the Agency for Health and Food Safety GmbH(AGES) to fulfil its sovereign tasks.

Director

Dr Anton Reinl
Michael Raumauf, LL.M., B.A. (Deputy Director)

Import Control Department (IMP)

Dr Elke^Narath

Export Authorisation Department (EXP)

Dr Ulrike^Vorberg, MSc

Legal Services Department (RDI)

Michael Raumauf, LL.M., B.A.

In addition to the Director and his deputy in the operational area, the FOT consists of the three departments "Import Control", "Export Authorisation" and "Legal Services". The respective specialist responsibilities can be found in the rules of procedure and the division of responsibilities.

Organisation chart

Business organisation

Rules of procedure

Pursuant to Section 6c (1) GESG, the BAVG is responsible for carrying out the following tasks assigned to it in the respective federal laws:

• Import control within the meaning of § 6c Para. 1 Z 1 GESG
• Issuing export licences and related controls within the meaning of § 6c para. 1 no. 2 GESG
• The inspection of non-governmental establishments and institutes that work with infectious pathogens of notifiable animal diseases and the subsequent issuing of a licence in accordance with Section 30 of the Animal Health Act 2024, Federal Law Gazette I No. 53/2024 (Section 6c para. 1 no. 2a GESG)
• Issuing official certificates or official attestations within the meaning of Section 6c(1)(3) GESG
• Goods pursuant to Section 1 para. 1 LMSVG that are offered for sale in Austria via the internet or other distance selling channels from EU Member States, EEA contracting states or third countries are subject to regular monitoring by the Federal Office of Consumer Health (Section 6c para. 1 no. 4 GESG in conjunction with Section 25a para. 3 LMSVG)
• Implementation of administrative procedures pursuant to Section 14 EU-QuaDG in relation to traditional specialities guaranteed and geographical indications for spirits within the meaning of Section 6c para. 1 no. 6 GESG
• Authorisation of non-organic ingredients of agricultural origin for processed organic foods pursuant to Art. 25 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 within the meaning of Section 6c para. 1 no. 7 GESG
  

The BAVG is a subordinate agency of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection pursuant to Section 6c (2) GESG.

In order to carry out the sovereign tasks listed in § 6c para. 1 GESG, the BAVG must also use the means available to the Agency for Health and Food Safety GmbH (hereinafter referred to as AGES), deploy professionally qualified inspection bodies and issue them with a corresponding certificate of identification for this purpose.

A fee is to be paid for the activities of the BAVG in connection with the execution of the above-mentioned sovereign tasks in accordance with a tariff (§ 57 AVG), which the BAVG is to set with the approval of the Federal Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection and the Federal Minister of Finance.

Pursuant to Section 6c (7) GESG, the BAVG must make regulations, resolutions and the tariff of fees generally accessible on the BAVG website, including the date of publication.

Mon-Thu (weekdays): 9:00 to 15:00

Fri (weekdays): 9:00 to 12:00

Please make an appointment in advance by telephone.

Mon-Fri(weekdays): 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sat/Fe(Mon-Fri): 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

By appointment only

Mon-Fri (weekdays): 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

BAVG Import: +43 (0) 50 555 - 25453

BAVG Office: +43 (0) 50 555 - 25450

The employees of the BAVG are in a valid employment relationship with AGES. In § 9 (1) (1) GESG, the obligation for AGES to maintain objectivity and impartiality in the performance of its tasks is explicitly enshrined in law. Within the framework of the implementation of the GESG, but also on the basis of individual provisions of substantive law, the employees of AGES must uphold the principles of independence, objectivity and impartiality.

In addition, AGES and its employees are obliged to maintain and ensure independence and integrity due to their accreditation as conformity assessment bodies according to EN ISO/IEC 17025, EN ISO/IEC 17020 and EN ISO/IEC 17065.