Food

Information about food
The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) exercises several duties, with which it contributes to safer food and thus, intensifies health-based consumer protection in Germany. Food can be manufactured and sold in Germany without special permission as long as it does not exert any damage on consumers’ health and meets the general standards set by legislation. However, manufacturers, importers, carriers and retailers are responsible for the food they put into circulation. They are obligated to ensure and document the safety and quality of their food through in-house control mechanisms.
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Feed

Information about Feed
Safe animal feed is a prerequisite for safe and wholesome food derived from animals, and healthy and efficient animals. The federal states (Bundesländer) control the proper production, movement and the use of animal feed. The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) supports the Bundesländer together with the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in the execution of such tasks.
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Commodities

Information about Commodities
The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) assumes the tasks of risk management and coordinates the process of monitoring by the Federal States (Bundesländer) for tobacco products, cosmetics and other commodities which either come into contact with humans directly or with food for human consumption. Moreover, the BVL plays a consultative role in the domestic legislative process as well as in international treaties. Regarding tobacco products, cosmetics or other commodities which come into contact with foodstuffs or humans, the BVL initiates investigation programs to uncover data in respect of the occurrence of undesired materials in such products. The data prepared by the BVL serve as a basis for risk assessment as well as for decisions if steps should be taken to improve the situation.
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Plant Protection Products

Information about Plant Protection Products
Plant protection products are substances which are intended to protect plants or plant products against animals, plants, micro-organisms or diseases. Substances which destroy plants, regulate growth or inhibit germination are also regarded as plant protection products. Plant protection products may only be distributed and used if they have been authorised.
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Effective and Safe Veterinary Drugs – Healthy Animals

Information about Veterinary Drugs
 Veterinary drugs are such substances as are made to treat, prevent or diagnose diseases in animals. The definition of the term Pharmaceuticals thus also encompasses the areas of prevention and diagnosis of diseases in addition to the classical medication-based therapy. The definition is derived from the Medicines Act (Arzneimittelgesetz), which serves as a uniform basis for the proper supply of medicinal products for humans and animals. Particularly the guaranty of the quality, efficacy and safety of veterinary drugs is paramount to this law.
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Genetic Engineering

Information about Genetic Engineering
Since 2004, the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) is the leading federal authority responsible for the field of genetic engineering in Germany. The BVL fulfils the mandate as national competent authority according to the Genetic Engineering Act (Gentechnikgesetz) and Ordinances of the European Union. The BVL thus assesses notifications for the experimental use of genetically modified organisms (GMO). The BVL is also involved in the approval of GMOs in connection with food and feed. The BVL gives advice to the Federal Government as well as the Federal States (Bundesländer) and their bodies on issues of biological safety in genetic engineering.
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Laboratories - analyses on the same level

Information about laboratories
During their production foods are often subject to processes which might lead to undesired properties. In food control, for example residues of veterinary drugs and pesticides, heavy metals or hygienic shortcomings are detected. A large number of problematic residues and contaminations are regulated in European and national law. On local, regional, national and EU level, the controls carried out by official laboratories contribute to food safety.
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Consumer Protection

Information about commercial consumer protection
The economic interests of consumers in the EU are now protected by a number of regulations. Nevertheless, if conflicts are reaching beyond national borders, it is often difficult to enforce these rights. Since 2006, the BVL has adopted central tasks in economic consumer protection, committing itself to the enforcement of consumer protection laws within the EU as part of a network of European authorities.
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The BVL - Management Authority for Health-Related Consumer Protection

Information about the Federal Office
Numerous crises like dioxin-afflicted feed, misuse of antibiotics in pig feeding and finally, the emergence of BSE in Germany in the late 1990s unsettled the trust of the populace in food safety. Following the recommendation in the report of the President of the Federal Court of Audit, Hedda von Wedel, the Federal Agency (subsequently Federal Office) of Consumer Protection and Food safety was founded in the course of the re-organization of health-related consumer protection in January 2002 and established as the authority responsible for risk management.
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