About the Federal Austrian Association of Food Safety and Consumer Protection
(Verband der österreichischen Lebensmittelkontrolleure V.O.L.K )

Chairman: Ing. Andreas Müller,Am Modenapark 1-2, A-1030 Wien;
Phone +43 (0)1 4000-59202; E-mail andreas.mueller@wien.gv.at (Office) or lebensmittelkontrolle@xpoint.at (Association)

The Association has  250 members (including retired members).
The members are employed by Competent authorities at either the Regional or Local level.

Qualifications required for Employment:
All members have graduated from high school and have a post graduate qualification in line with national educational standards. There is a requirement for a post graduate test of professional competence and there is a scheme for continuing professional development. All members are qualified. Qualifications obtained in other countries are recognised.

There are 6 regional Associations founded by the „Länder“ of Austria. They hold seminars, training courses and publish newsletters.

There is an Academy, which provides further education for Food Safety Officers and the Programme for Food Safety Officers is undertaken in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Women.

There is in place an Education Training Plan, which is also run in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Women and which is specifically about HACCP. Over the last two years all national Officers have been trained in HACCP so as to be able to inspect HACCP systems introduced by food companies.

The Association’s Homepage contains the first edition of the national Quality Management of the Austrian Food Safety Authorities.

The Association is a member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, of working groups set up by the Federal Ministry of Social Security and Generation and of the EWFC (European Working Group for Food Control and Consumer Protection).

The Association organises a Conference annually, which is open not only to members but to all interested groups, for example, scientists, chemists, etc.

Publication:
The Association publishes a Journal „Ex Offo“ four times a year  and all members receive a free copy.