The BAES has important tasks and powers in the control and monitoring of companies that place agricultural inputs on the market. The basis for this is formed by the Seed Act, Seedlings Act, Plant Variety Protection Act, Plant Protection Products Act, Plant Protection Act, Feedstuffs Act, Fertilizers Act and Marketing Standards Act as well as the applicable legal basis for illegal fishing. These marketing controls are carried out in accordance with a risk-based control plan and are carried out by trained control bodies on the basis of national and European legislation. The import control of agricultural inputs and fishery products is also the responsibility of the Federal Office.
In accordance with the annual inspection plan, the number of sampling and/or conformity checks, the number of farms to be inspected and the farm inspections to be carried out are determined on a risk-based sampling basis. The planning of follow-up inspections (farm inspection and/or sampling) is based on the current results. An evaluation/measures catalog, which was created for the respective material law, differentiates the non-conformities of the random samples according to their relevance to safety or quality and protection against deception as well as conformity classes (minor, minor, moderate, major). The aim is to take effective, appropriate and adequate measures on a risk basis within the framework of the
legal regulations and, if necessary, to carry out follow-up inspections in order to ensure an impact-oriented control. Notifications from rapid alert systems, customs notifications and information from ongoing analyses and legal and technical aspects are incorporated into operational planning via event-driven controls. This includes, for example, internal or external information, media reports, current risks arising on the market, suspicious circumstances in the control process, etc.
BAES has a risk management function in areas in which it acts as the authority of first instance. Import controls are carried out in cooperation with the Austrian Customs Office, an authority of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF). For laboratory services and scientific advice, BAES makes use of the experts at the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES GmbH). In the event of violations of legal requirements, measures are taken by the BAES. In the case of serious offenses, suspected cases of misleading information or repeated violations of legal requirements or non-compliance with official measures, the BAES reports the matter to the competent administrative authority, which then conducts the administrative criminal proceedings. The BAES itself is not a criminal authority. Any suspicion of fraud that is potentially relevant under criminal law is reported by the BAES to the Federal Criminal Police Office, the police or the public prosecutor's office.
Annual report on the inspection of the BAES 2024