Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment ( or simply RIVM) is a Dutch research institute that is an independent agency of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. RIVM performs tasks to promote public health and a safe living environment by conducting research and collecting knowledge worldwide. The results are used to support the Government of the Netherlands in formulating its policy. RIVM's primary tasks are: research policy support national coordination intervention programmes provision of reliable information to the public and to professionals working in health care about infectious diseases, the environment, nutrition and safety. RIVM is located in Bilthoven, Utrecht and employs over 1,500 people, many of whom work in multidisciplinary fields. History RIVM was founded in 1910 when the Central Laboratory for Public Health was created.