BLE is the subordinate authority to the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) with around 1700 employees working in many parts of Germany and the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Its headquarters are located in Bonn and include the Information and Coordination Centre for Biological Diversity (IBV). BLE-IBV is responsible for the implementation of the National Program for Animal Genetic Resources. According to national animal breeding legislation, BLE-IBV monitors the populations of native livestock breeds for 20 years now. Together with the National Advisory Board on Animal Genetic Resources, BLE-IBV determines the risk status of native livestock breeds. This information is published regularly in the “Red List of native endangered livestock breeds in Germany”.

BLE-IBV is the National Focal Point for Animal Genetic Resources and therefore maintains the national database for breed data and the publication of information according to the EU zoo-technical legislation. At FAO level, BLE participates in the sessions of the Commission for Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) and its Intergovernmental Technical Working Groups (ITWG). At European level, BLE-IBV is active in ERFP Working Groups and Task Forces. BLE offers policy advice concerning biological diversity in the agricultural sector to BMEL.