Martine Hansen, Luxembourg's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, surrounded by experts from the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA);
Credit: DAVID ANGELETTI © LCGDP/OTELLO
On Tuesday 21 April 2026, the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) hosted the 2026 edition of its conference “Food Safety on My Plate” at the Philharmonie Luxembourg in Luxembourg-Kirchberg.
According to Luxembourg’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, the event, which this year was dedicated to the various checks carried out when animals, plants and food travel, attracted more than 300 participants.
The ministry reported that experts from ALVA and the Agricultural Technical Services Administration (ASTA - Administration des services techniques de l’agriculture) answered questions from an audience keen to learn the rules for safely importing their favourite foods or plants into Luxembourg. In total, six presentations were given which detailed the controls. These included checks on plants and certified organic products, checks on food of non-animal origin and legislation concerning small parcels. The work of Lilly, ALVA’s sniffer dog, was also presented. Moreover, the public was able to discover veterinary checks carried out at the border control post, as well as good practices when travelling with pets.
Martine Hansen, Luxembourg’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, recalled the risks of importing plants or animals into Luxembourg without precautions: “We do not always think about it, but harmful insects can hide in a plant or food that we put in our suitcase. The consequences can then be disastrous.”
The event concluded with a convivial “Meet & Eat” session, allowing participants to freely exchange views with the speakers.
