Italy reports staff shortages in food safety and veterinary controls

The Italian Ministry of Health has reported a “grave and widespread lack of human resources” within the authorities responsible for food safety and public veterinary health. This shortage is reportedly hindering the ability of national, regional, and local authorities to perform essential supervisory functions and conduct required audits under European regulations.

Despite these staffing challenges, recent data regarding the animal feed supply chain shows high compliance. Monitoring by the Ministry of Health and veterinary services, involving 8,249 inspections and 9,196 analyses, revealed a compliance rate of 99.44% for the year 2024. This indicates that the system remains effective in maintaining standards for animal and human health within the feed sector, even as broader administrative capacity faces pressure.