The Federation of European Societies on Trace Elements and Minerals (FESTEM) is a non profit organization which was founded in Rome, the 21st of March 1997 under the initiative of the national societies from Italy, the "Associazione Italiana per lo Studio degli Elementi in Traccia negli Organismi Viventi (A.I.S.E.T.O.V.)"; from Germany, the "Gesellschaft für Mineralstoffe und Spurenelemente (GMS) and from the French speaking countries, the "Société Francophone d'Etude et de Recherche sur les Eléments Trace Essentiels (SFERETE)".

In july 2002 two new national societies has now become a member of FESTEM: the "Russian Society of Trace Elements in Medicine(RUSTEM)" and the Spanish society: "C. Elementos Traza de la Sociedad Española de Química (SEQCET)".

Its aim is to increase the collaboration, the diffusion and the exchange of information on scientific activities of national societies, including advances in basic and applied research about minerals and trace elements in chemical analysis, physiology, epidemiology, molecular biology, medical diagnosis and therapy, pharmacology, preventive medicine, nutrition, toxicology, occupational medicine, and environmental protection. The Federation of European Societies on Trace Elements and Minerals (FESTEM) will seek to establish formal links, inter alia, with the Commission of the European Union and the World Health Organization.

Among other activities, the FESTEM, will support interdisciplinary exchanges of ideas between pure and applied science, initiate research projects, conduct lecture series, hold scientific conferences and support the publication and presentation of scientific research. The Federation will also provide information to the medical and related professions, and seek as well to inform the general public. In the field of chemical analysis the FESTEM will make effort to improve the quality of analyses.

The Federation has been officially registered at the University of Grenoble and at the "Prefecture de'l Is'ere" and the statutes of FESTEM will be published in the "Official Journal" of the French Republic. The executive board is composed by two person per society with a right to vote. Additionally, there are a treasurer and a vice-secretary as members of the bureau, without right to vote.

The board of the executives agreed to designate the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology as official organ of the Federation of European Societies on Trace Elements and Minerals.

The FESTEM will support meetings and congresses.