Departments

Department of Agricultural Policy

Ministry of Agriculture and Food

The Department of Agricultural Policy is responsible for the Agricultural Agreement and the Reindeer Husbandry Agreement, including the annual negotiations in these areas. The department also handles climate, environmental, and nature-related issues within the agricultural sector. It follows up on import protection for agricultural products, trade negotiations, and international food security efforts. Additionally, the department oversees the Norwegian Agriculture Agency.

The department consists of the following sections

  • Section for Agricultural Policy (SJ)

    This section is responsible for the Agricultural Agreement and the annual negotiations between the government, the Norwegian Farmers’ Union, and the Norwegian Association of Small-scale Farmers. The implementation and follow-up of the agreement are carried out in cooperation with the Norwegian Agriculture Agency. The section also oversees food preparedness, livestock production licenses, the milk quota system, and the milk price equalization scheme.

  • Section for Climate, Environment, and Trade Policy (KMH)

    This section is responsible for international trade negotiations and customs protection for agricultural products, the food industry, and international food security efforts. It also handles climate, environmental, and nature-related issues within the agricultural sector and coordinates the ministry’s overall climate and environmental work. The section works on EEA-related matters in both trade and environmental/climate areas.

  • Section for Reindeer Husbandry Policy (SR)

    This section is responsible for developing reindeer husbandry policy, conducting the annual negotiations, and designing economic and legal policy instruments. Within the reindeer sector, the section also handles issues related to predators and land use, climate measures and emergency preparedness, international law, development of supplementary industries based on reindeer husbandry, international conventions, and cross-border reindeer herding. The section works closely with the Norwegian Agriculture Agency and the County Governors responsible for reindeer husbandry.