Chief Veterinary Officer: Vida Čadonič-Špelič, PhD

e-mail: vida.cadonic-spelic(at)gov.si

address: Parmova ulica 53, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

phone: +386 1 300 1300

fax: +386 1 300 1357

e-mail:vurs(at)gov.si

web: www.vurs.gov.si

MISSION AND AREAS OF WORK

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.

ORGANISATION

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).