The Austrian Agency of Health and Food Safety (AGES) is a government owned agency attached to the Federal Ministry for Health and to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. The business of AGES is to promote a holistic approach to food security, food safety, animal health and public health issues in Austria by integrating different disciplines along the human food chain in order to achieve synergy effects and to concentrate all relevant capacities. AGES is responsible for authorizations of products, registrations of premises, controls and inspections and analyses in accordance with various Austrian federal laws. AGES also conducts research in the areas of agriculture, food and feed safety control, epidemiology and control of infectious diseases, veterinary medicine, radiation protection medical devices and pharmaceuticals.