In June 1959, the agriculture, co-operatives, fisheries, rural development and veterinary divisions of various ministries were reshuffled to form the Primary Production Department, under the new Ministry of National Development. The department was restructured into a statutory board, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, on 1 April 2000. The Food Control Division (formerly part of the Ministry of the Environment) was added to the AVA in July 2002. It regulated food safety, safeguarded animal and plant health, and facilitated the agri-food and fisheries trade sectors.
