International Cooperation and Negotiations

The Danish Agricultural Agency participates in international collaboration at many levels in various fields of expertise.

The main part of the foundation for work of the Danish Agricultural Agency is based on international cooperation and negotiations. Partly when we develop and define long-term initiatives and partly in our concrete day-to-day activities.

Furthermore the Danish Agricultural Agency offers technical assistance and consultancy services for capacity building in present and future EU-member states as well as in the rest of world. In addition, the divisions of the Danish Agricultural Agency offer international courses and perform commissioned tasks.

The Danish Agricultural Agency takes part in ISTA congresses and annual meetings.

ISTA was founded in 1924, with the aim to develop and publish standard procedures in the field of seed testing.

International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)

Agricultural subsidies comprise a very large portion of the EU´s budget, and we are the institution responsible for paying out the subsidies, and to ensure a green transition, both domestically and internationally.

The Danish Agricultural Agency officially represents Denmark at all Commission and Council working group meetings regarding our area of expertise, which include:

  • The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
    • direct payments for farmers
    • rural development
    • market measures
    • environmental policies
  • Research and development
  • Plants
  • Seed
  • Feed
  • Fertiliser
  • Organic farming

The Danish Agricultural Agency participates in various FAO activities such as:

  • Plant genetic resources
  • Organic farming
  • The Codex Alimentarius Commission
  • The implementation of other FAO guidelines based on international treaties.

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) was founded in 1951. IPPC, deposited with FAO, has been recognised as the standard setting organisation for phytosanitary (i.e. plant health) matters.

The Danish Agricultural Agency participates actively in IPPC’s annual conference, and currently has an elected member in the Standards Committee and various subgroups.

The Danish Agricultural Agency is an active member of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), established as a Regional PPO in IPPC terms and being responsible for European and Mediterranean cooperation in plant protection.

Furthermore, the Danish Agricultural Agency is the Danish National Plant Protection Organization, and Danish phytosanitary legislation has been based upon the Convention's principles and standards.

The Nordic and Baltic plant health authorities have been cooperating on a phytosanitary project (2008-2011) to improve the competence of plant health inspectors, aiming at an enhancement of the official plant health expertise.

One outcome of the project is a database on plant quarantine organisms: "Quarantine Pests Online". An electronic database for plant health inspectors, providing easy accessible information on pests and diseases of plants and plant products.

The database is a collection of data sheets describing a number of the most important pests and diseases with plant quarantine status.

The project was financed by the Council of Nordic Ministers.

The divisions of The Danish Agricultural Agency are internationally recognised for our expertise and training. We offer training by highly qualified professional experts in many different types of laboratory tests.

Furthermore, we offer assistance in connection with the establishment and development of effective, reliable and independent quality assurance and control systems.