The National Food Safety Agency was transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry under the Government’s management, based on a bill passed by Parliament on October 24, IPN reports.

According to the bill authors, the analysis of the Agency’s first months of work revealed inefficiencies in the functioning of the mechanism for coordinating and taking decisions in the process of fulfilling the functional duties. It was established that one of the main causes that diminished the efficacy of the steps taken by the Agency is the lack of real autonomy at this watchdog.

The Communist MPs voted against. Artur Reshetnikov said the transfer of the Agency to the Government forms part of the posts distribution plan of the Pro-European Coalition.

Liberal lawmaker Corina Fusu said the Agency is inefficient and its administration should be dismissed.

The National Food Safety Agency is responsible for the implementation of state policies in the food safety and sanitary-veterinary, animal and plant protection sectors. It was founded this January by reorganization through merger.