HMVVT : Aiming to adopt Swedish best practice in feed control

On 14–15 January 2026, a team from the State Food and Veterinary Office (SFVO) visited Sweden to participate in an experience exchange session with specialists from the Swedish Agricultural Council (Jordbruksverket). The visit focused on improving feed sampling planning, risk assessment and process organisation.

One of the main topics of the visit was Sweden's move towards a more flexible control model. The fixed sampling plan used until 2017 proved to be inefficient and redundant. The new model gives more autonomy to inspectors, who select samples based on risk assessment guidelines, the real situation on the ground and the latest Feed Sampling Manual. This practice helps to avoid redundant testing and to achieve control objectives more efficiently.

„The most important lesson we take away – trust in the competence and flexibility of the professionals. The example of Sweden inspires us to simplify processes in Lithuania too, so that control is not an additional burden but an activity that creates real value," said Aistė Kotryna Remeikienė, Chief Adviser of the MoIHCP.

Sweden has a different funding regime: operators pay an annual fee for inspections and pay for sample testing themselves. The State (SBA) only covers the cost of salmonella serotyping.

The first day also included an analysis of the national legislation on compulsory self-monitoring of salmonella and aflatoxins by operators themselves.

The second day of the visit was devoted to observing the practical processes of one of Sweden's largest feed manufacturers, – „Lantmännen“. The VVM specialists observed how their colleagues work in a real-life environment, what technical means they use and how they ensure safe transport of samples.

 Analysing the documents and methodologies used by the Swedish colleagues, the VMVT specialists assessed the possibilities to integrate these good practices into the Lithuanian feed control system. Continuous exchange of experience with experts from other EU countries promotes the aim of ensuring that the control mechanisms applied in Lithuania meet the highest safety standards and are as efficient as possible.