The Department is the political level of the organisation.

The main tasks of the Department are: policy development, minister related service and group management.

The Department assists the Minister in general policy formulation and acts as a secretariat in matters that require the involvement of the Minister.

Furthermore, the Department may act on its own initiative in political matters within the relevant sectors of the Ministry and follow up on political measures taken in the Danish Parliament (Folketing) relating to the food, agriculture or fisheries industries.

The Department is in charge of the general management of the Minister's portfolio as the Department at the overall level directs and coordinates the work of the Ministry's directorates and institutions.

Moreover, decisions taken by directorates and institutions may normally be appealed to the Minister/the Department.

It is also the responsibility of the Department to coordinate the legislative work, conduct international negotiations of major importance, maintain contact with departments in other ministries and with other partners as well as to coordinate the Ministry's personnel policy, communication and information and IT policy.

The Department is divided into fields and has a staff of 120.

Permanent Secretary Ib Byrge Sørensen is head of the Department.

The ministerial secretariat is responsible for the practical functions in connection with the Minister's work.

View the organization chart of the Department (pdf).