BVL
Export affairs
We are an advisory and coordinating body for compliance with requirements that apply to the export of animals, animal products, food, feed, and food consumer goods.
We are the interface between the veterinary, food and feed monitoring authorities in Germany and the competent authorities of non-EU countries.
Current market opening procedures or ongoing, time-bound enquiries for exports to non-EU countries (third countries)
| Name of third country | Category | Deadline (Entrance BVL) |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | down and feathers | July 18, 2025 |
| Repulic of Korea | pet food for dogs, cats, ferrets and hamsters | September, 10, 2025 |
Market opening procedures allow companies interested in exporting to express their interest via their competent supervisory authority.
Interested companies can obtain information on the documents to be submitted from the relevant trade associations or their competent supervisory authority.
Note:
Information on new market opening procedures is announced via the BVL newsletter "Export Matters". You can subscribe to the newsletter at the bottom of this website.
Tasks related to export affairs
In the field of export affairs, BVL essentially acts as an advisory and coordinating body in matters relating to the export of animals, animal products, food, feed, and food consumer goods to non-EU countries (third countries).
Our tasks include supporting registration or listing processes of German stablishments, the processing of complaint cases, the supervision of pre-notification procedures and the preparation, accompaniment and follow-up of inspections and audits by authorities from non-EU countries.
Approval and listing procedure
Zulassungs- bzw. Listungsverfahren
Source: stock adobe / Binkski
Certain non-EU countries only allow imports from companies that are known to them through prior listing. The prerequisite for listing is compliance with the requirements specified by the countries.
The companies are responsible for complying with the requirements of third countries. As part of registration, approval and listing procedures, BVL is involved, among other things, in the preparation of establishment lists and the submission of new applications as well as notifications of changes and cancellations.
What requirements apply to products that are to be exported?
According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, food and feed exported from the Community to be marketed in a third country (non-EU country) must fulfil the relevant requirements of food law, unless specified otherwise by the authorities or the legal requirements of the importing country.
Why listing procedures for exports to certain third countries?
Some third countries only permit exports to their territory from establishments that are already known through prior registration or approval procedures and have been listed as registered or approved establishments.
When a third country informs BMEL that companies aiming to export, and/or already exporting, must be listed/registered for export to the third country, all available information is processed at BVL and forwarded to the federal states and trade associations concerned.
The aim of the individual listing procedures is to register companies that wish to export and at the same time to have the competent supervisory authority check and confirm that the requirements of the third countries are met and that the company is suitable for export.
In which listing procedures is BVL involved?
The following table shows the procedures for listing companies for export to third countries that are currently being processed at BVL. Any official lists published by the third-country authorities can be accessed by selecting the corresponding product category in the table below.
How can I obtain information on listing procedures in which BVL is involved?
All information available to BVL on the procedures listed in the table is forwarded to the trade associations concerned as well as the competent authorities of the federal states. BVL therefore refers individual enquiries about the procedures to these authorities.
How can I obtain information on listing procedures in which BVL is not involved?
BVL does not have any information on the export of products not listed in the table nor on exports to other third countries. If you have any questions in this regard, the experience of trade associations and chambers of commerce might be helpful. In any case it is advisable to clarify the import regulations with the importer or the local customer in the destination country.
How does the application process work?
Companies wishing to export to countries for which listing procedures have been established must fulfil the requirements communicated by the third countries. The relevant requirements are available to the trade associations.
Companies are responsible for complying with the requirements of third countries. Applications for registration/approval or listing must be submitted to the supervisory authority responsible for the establishment.
Establishments are expressly discouraged from sending documents directly to BVL.
When are amendments required?
Third countries require that the lists they maintain based on data transmitted by the Federal Republic of Germany are always up-to-date. Against this background, all changes that have an impact on lists in third countries must be transmitted to third countries without delay. This particularly applies to changes that affect the approval of the respective establishment. Specifically, third countries must be notified of changes if
a) establishment data changes (e.g. approval number, addresses, names, activities),
b) companies no longer fulfil the requirements for export to the third country, or
c) a listed company ceases operations.
Companies are responsible for ensuring that the operational information (operational data) available to third countries is up-to-date; notifications according to a) must therefore be initiated by the company by its own accord. Notifications according to b) and c) are usually initiated by the competent authorities.
How should applications be submitted to BVL?
The notification of establishments must be submitted to BVL via the competent authorities of the federal states responsible for the establishment. BVL only processes applications and notifications that are submitted through the specified channel, i.e. via the authorities responsible for the establishment in question. Companies are expressly discouraged from sending documents to BVL directly. Documents sent by companies directly to BVL cannot be processed.
After checking the documents, BVL forwards them to the competent authority in the third country.
When is export possible?
Export is generally possible once the company is listed by the third country, or changes to an existing list have been accepted there. Simply submitting the documents will not suffice.
BVL generally advises against shipping goods before they have been listed in the third country or before relevant changes have been accepted by the third country.
Testing laboratories:
Export of fresh plant-based foods to Indonesia: Approval procedure for commercial laboratories
Source: stock adobe / kamonrat
In addition to the procedures for listing companies interested in exporting, BVL also manages an approval process for commercial laboratories that wish to analyse fresh plant-based foodstuffs intended for export to Indonesia. Interested commercial laboratories can obtain necessary information on the application process for approval by the Indonesian authorities from BVL.
Registration and listing procedures for laboratories in Japan
Japanese importers can use the test results issued by the foreign official laboratories, if the foreign official laboratories are listed with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).
Applications to list laboratories approved for the inspection of goods to be exported to Japan are submitted to BVL. BVL checks whether all prerequisites are met and forwards the applications. The list of approved laboratories is available at
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/shokuhin/yunyu_kanshi/index_00017.html
Complaints
Suez Kanal
Source: stock adobe / Corona Borealis
If during import inspections an authority of the country of destination discovers that consignments of goods do not comply with the applicable requirements, the companies concerned are requested to determine the causes and take appropriate measures. BVL coordinates the processing of officially submitted complaints.
Prenotification procedure
Source: stock adobe / Maryna
Some countries require advance electronic notification of goods before importing foodstuffs. These notifications, issued by the authority responsible for the exporting company, contain basic information about the consignment. Notifications are checked at BVL and then reported to the third country.
Export expert group of the Federal Government and Federal States
Source: stock adobe / Photo Gallery
BVL coordinates the work of both the “Expert group on food exports of the Federal Government and the Federal States” and the “Expert group on feed exports of the Federal Government and the Federal States”. In these groups, the relevant legal bases of non-EU countries and those of the European Union are continuously compared and compiled.
In addition, specific questions on how to deal with these requirements are discussed. The results of these discussions are made available to export companies based in Germany as well as to the competent German authorities.
Inspections/audits and operational reviews
Source: stock adobe / Photo Gallery
If authorities from non-EU countries intend to carry out company or system audits in Germany, BVL generally takes on the coordination. This includes preparation, accompaniment and follow-up. Inspections can be carried out either physically on site or virtually via video audit.
Training courses
Source: stock adobe / Yellow Boat
BVL regularly organises training courses on export matters. These are generally designed for federal state authorities responsible for controlling export companies.
Further export topics at BVL:
Specialist reports