Prevention and control of food-borne zoonoses is given high priority in Germany and in the European Union. To implement targeted control measures, detailed data are necessary on human zoonoses and on the prevalence of zoonotic agents along the food chain. EU-wide legislations have been stipulated that allow collection and collation of relevant data across member states. The necessary structures have been established and are being constantly refined. In addition, surveillance systems and early warning systems have been improved or set up, respectively, to timely investigate and control food-borne outbreaks and to transnationally communicate food safety risks. For prevention and control to be effective, well-defined responsibilities and close collaboration of public health, veterinary public health and food safety authorities are needed. This report reviews the pertinent legislation, the established structures, and the collaboration of competent authorities in Germany and particularly in Europe. In the future, data quality and collaboration on national and EU levels will likely be further improved. Targeted control measures, particularly at primary production, are expected to lead to a sustainable reduction of the incidence of food-borne zoonoses.