Totschnig Puts Law for Secure Food Supply in Crises on Track
To ensure the supply of food to Austrians even in times of crisis, Austria has the Food Management Act. This important instrument is now set to be further developed and was submitted for consultation on August 11, 2025.
The recent blackout events in Spain, Portugal, and France at the end of April this year demonstrate how important it is to be well prepared for emergencies. To ensure the supply of food to Austrians even in times of crisis, Austria has the Food Management Act (FMA). This important instrument is now set to be further developed and was submitted for consultation on August 11, 2025.
Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig: “We must not wait until a crisis occurs; we need to prepare proactively. With the amendment to the law, we are implementing lessons learned from recent crises, such as blackout events in other countries or supply chain disruptions due to international conflicts. The goal of the amendment is to ensure food supply security in Austria even in crisis situations.”
The legal amendment will allow stockpiling by decree of the Minister of Agriculture. The law also provides for early information measures for the public and businesses to increase Austria’s crisis resilience. Another element includes a more precise definition of steering measures and the involvement of the Federal Police in enforcing administrative violations - modeled on the Energy Steering Act. Additionally, the use of data in connection with precautionary measures for scientific analyses and studies will be regulated.