In 1994, the Directorate General for Health established a national program for systematic breast cancer screening, based on European recommendations for training, quality control, and evaluation. This program began with the 10 pilot departments of the National Health Insurance Fund for Salaried Workers, which were established between 1989 and 1991. National guidelines specify the screening procedures. The Cancer Program of the Department of Chronic Diseases and Injuries at the Institute for Public Health Surveillance is responsible for the epidemiological evaluation of cancer screening programs. The impact of these programs on mortality can only be measured over the long term. Early indicators of the programs’ impact, quality, and effectiveness are therefore necessary to evaluate them. The results of the 1999 evaluation of the breast cancer screening program are presented. (R.A.)