The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine plays a lead role in promoting competitive and sustainable economic development in the agriculture, food, forestry and fisheries sectors, including overall responsibility for public policy and administration. The Department also has major regulatory functions, with the objective of maintaining the highest standards of food safety, consumer protection and animal and plant health. With more than 3,000 staff, the Department operates from six large centralised locations across the country, with a presence also in a further 16 regional offices and a large number of other locations countrywide. The Department has a diverse customer base which includes farmers, taxpayers, consumers, food processors and other commercial operators, those involved in sea fishing, forestry, bio-energy, research as well as diverse EU institutions, other State bodies and special interest groups.