Germany

Competent authorities

Name of authority:
In Germany, consumer protection laws are enacted at federal level, however, implementation and control is the responsibility of the 16 federal states (i. e. at regional level).
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is responsible for agricultural policy and food safety. In the field of food safety the BMEL prepares draft legislation and issues ordinances. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a specialist authority within the portfolio of the BMEL. It contributes to the enforcement of legislation by undertaking statutory risk assessments and advises political circles. On management issues, the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) undertakes preparatory work for the BMEL.
Germany consists of 16 federal states, with large individual differences with regard to the size of each state (between 1 and 20 million inhabitants per state). The 16 federal states of Germany are, in principle, responsible for implementation of the food law. Implementation of food and feed safety is therefore the responsibility of the federal states. In this task the federal states are independent, i. e. not bound by instructions of the federal government. The appropriate ministry in each federal state coordinates and supervises control and inspection activities in this area. To ensure comparable procedures in all 16 federal states, the federal states coordinate their activities mainly in working groups in which the federal level is also involved. Distributed throughout all federal states there are 430 food inspection authorities and approximately 35 food surveillance laboratories.
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is responsible for food safety risks caused by environmental contaminants, introduced into air, water or soil via human activity. The Federal Environmental Agency (UBA), the Federal Office for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) support the work of the BMU as the competent specialist authorities in its portfolio. Effective environmental protection contributes to the production of healthy, largely uncontaminated food. The BMEL is responsible for the other areas of food safety. The BfR and BVL, the competent specialist authorities in this area, support the BMEL and BMU in the field of food safety.

Mandate/competence:
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)
The BfR's remit encompasses scientifically based risk assessments as part of administrative procedures, for instance marketing authorisations for plant protection products, and policy advice. The BfR risk assessments are used by the BMEL, BMU and regional/local public authorities as the basis for management measures. Without being influenced by scientific, political or social interests, the BfR has the task of assessing risks, identifying new health risks and drawing up risk minimisation recommendations. In this context, the BfR draws on the support of 15 independent expert committees with around 200 committee members overall. In its capacity as a scientific body, the BfR enjoys independence in respect of the results of its opinions, and prepares expert reports on risk assessment. The BfR's remit includes novel foods and food ingredients, feed, residues of plant protection products and veterinary medicinal products, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), food supplements, zoonoses, food contact materials and mineral waters. Other main areas of its work are research and transparent communication with the public at large, scientific circles and other stakeholders. 13 National Reference Laboratories are attached to the BfR pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/625. In addition to food safety, the BfR is also responsible for risk assessments in the area of safety of consumer products, cosmetics, biocides and chemicals (REACH). The BfR also collects notifications of intoxication caused by chemicals.
Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL)
The main focus of the BVL is on risk management. In the field of food safety the BVL supports the cooperation between the BMEL, BMU and the federal states. Together with the federal states, the BVL coordinates programmes for inspection and control of food to ensure comparable results and procedures in all 16 federal states of Germany. The BVL is the regulatory authority for novel foods and food ingredients, plant protection products and veterinary medicinal products. In its decision-making process the BVL normally draws on BfR risk assessments. Based on risk assessments by other authorities, the BVL decides on applications for the experimental scientific cultivation of genetically modified plants. Furthermore, the BVL is involved in the EU marketing authorisation of GMOs in food and feed. Four National Reference Laboratories are attached to the BVL pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/625.
Robert Koch Institute (RKI)
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is a federal institute within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG). The RKI is responsible for the identification, prevention and control of diseases, especially infectious diseases. The tasks at the RKI include the legal obligation to compile scientific findings as a basis for political decisions concerning health issues. The RKI provides information and advice to the competent federal ministries – especially the BMG – and to the general public.

INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point

Food safety and consumer protection – laws and regulations

The national Codex programme

National Codex consultative mechanism

Providers of scientific and technical input to national consultation on Codex

Risk Assessments and Scientific Data

National bodies providing risk assessment and scientific advice

Risk assessment, risk profiles, scientific opinions

Surveillance of foodborne diseases and monitoring of food contamination

National surveillance systems – foodborne disease in humans

National monitoring systems – foodborne hazards in the food chain