Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of Germany facts for kids
| Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz | |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1949, (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forests) 13 February 1919 („Reichsministerium für Ernährung“) |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Germany |
| Headquarters | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen |
| Minister responsible |
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| Website | www.bmelv.de/ |
The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) is an important part of the German government. Its full name in German is German: Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz. This ministry helps make sure that people in Germany have safe food. It also supports farmers and protects consumers.
The main office of the ministry is in Bonn. But it also has another office in Berlin, the capital city. The ministry was officially formed on November 22, 2005. However, its roots go back to 1919.
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How the Ministry Works
The ministry has a special structure to do its job. It has two "parliamentary permanent secretaries". These people are also members of the German parliament. They help connect the ministry's work with the laws made by the parliament.
Currently, these roles are held by Gerd Müller from the CSU party and Ursula Heinen from the CDU party.
The top civil servant in the ministry is Gert Lindemann. He is called the "established permanent secretary." A civil servant is someone who works for the government. They help make sure the daily tasks of the ministry get done.
Ministry Departments
The ministry's work is divided into six main departments. Each department focuses on a different area. This helps them manage all their important tasks.
- Department 1: This is the central division. It handles the overall management and administration of the ministry.
- Department 2: This department focuses on protecting consumers. It also deals with diet and food choices. They look at new technologies like biological and genetic engineering.
- Department 3: This part of the ministry ensures food safety. It also works with veterinary surgeons to keep animals healthy. Healthy animals mean safe food for people.
- Department 4: This department looks after agricultural markets. They help plan how food is grown and sold.
- Department 5: This section supports rural areas. It also deals with social systems in the countryside. They work on growing vegetables and managing forests and timber.
- Department 6: This department handles international matters. It works with the European Union (EU) on food and farming rules. It also deals with fishing policies.
Germany's Food and Agriculture Ministers
The ministry is led by a Federal Minister. This person is in charge of all the ministry's work. They are a member of the German government's cabinet.
Here is a list of some of the people who have served as ministers for food, agriculture, and consumer protection in Germany. The ministry's name has changed a few times over the years.
| Food, Agriculture and Forests | 1949 | 2001 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Name (life data.) | Term start | Term end | Party |
| 1 | Wilhelm Niklas (1887-1957) | 20 September 1949 | 20 October 1953 | CSU |
| 2 | Heinrich Lübke (1894-1972) | 20 October 1953 | 15 September 1959 | CDU |
| 3 | Werner Schwarz (1900-1982) | 14 October 1959 | 26 October 1965 | CDU |
| 4 | Hermann Höcherl (1912-1989) | 26 October 1965 | 21 October 1969 | CSU |
| 5 | Josef Ertl (1925-2000) | 22 October 1969 | 17 September 1982 | FDP |
| 6 | Björn Engholm (1939-) | 17 September 1982 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| 7 | Josef Ertl (1925-2000) | 4 October 1982 | 29 March 1983 | FDP |
| 8 | Ignaz Kiechle (1930-2003) | 30 March 1983 | 21 January 1993 | CSU |
| 9 | Jochen Borchert (1940-) | 21 January 1993 | 26 October 1998 | CDU |
| 10 | Karl-Heinz Funke (1946-) | 27 October 1998 | 12 January 2001 | SPD |
| Consumer Protection, Food, and Agriculture | 2001 | 2005 | ||
| No | Name (life data.) | Term start | Term end | Party |
| 1 | Renate Künast (1955-) | 12 January 2001 | 4 October 2005 | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen |
| 2 | Jürgen Trittin (acting) (1954-) | 4 October 2005 | 18 October 2005 | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen |
| Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection | 2005 | 2013 | ||
| No | Name (life data.) | Term start | Term end | Party |
| 1 | Horst Seehofer (1949-) | 222 November 2005 | 27 October 2008 | CSU |
| 2 | Ilse Aigner (1964-) | 31 October 2008 | 30 September 2013 | CSU |
| Food and Agriculture | 2013 | Present | ||
| No | Name (life data.) | Term start | Term end | Party |
| 1 | Hans-Peter Friedrich (1957-) | 17 December 2013 | 14 February 2014 | CSU |
| 2 | Christian Schmidt (1957-) | 14 February 2014 | CSU | |
Fun Activities and Competitions
The ministry also organizes a fun competition for villages across Germany. It is called "Our Village has a Future." This competition encourages communities to improve their villages. It helps them become better places to live.
