Tasks and responsibilities

The Environment and Food Committee is a standing committee that has a very broad agenda. The Environment and Food Committee addresses every conceivable topic within these spheres – from chemical substances to coastal preservation, and from animal welfare to food safety.

Examples of topics addressed by the Environment and Food Committee:

• environment and nature preservation
• forestry, hunting and wildlife management
• gene technology
• national climate adaptation and coastal defences
• nature conservation 
• underground and subsea commodities
• food
• agriculture
• fisheries
• nurseries
• animal welfare
• animal health
• acquisition for recreational purposes
• food industry development
• food safety
• diet and eating habits

The committee’s tasks and responsibilities can be subdivided into two primary areas:

• handling of bills and motions within the committee’s remit
• parliamentary scrutiny of the government’s policies in these fields and observance of laws passed and mandates agreed in the Danish Government

Much of the Committee’s work involves parliamentary scrutiny of the government. In practise, scrutiny is exercised through the standing committee members’ tabling questions to the Minister for Environment and Food and the Minister for Fisheries.

Legislative work is the other main path in the committee’s work. Most bills are tabled by the government. They are debated in the Chamber and by the committee. Like any other member of the Danish Parliament, committee members may table motions within the committee’s remit.