Official Collection of Methods of Analysis (ASU)
according to § 64 LFGB, § 38 TabakerzG, § 28b GenTG
- Tasks
- Laboratories
- Analytical tasks
- Official Collection of Methods of Analysis
According to § 64 of the German Food and Feed Code (LFGB), § 38 of the German Tobacco Products Act (TabakerzG) and § 28b of the German Genetic Engineering Act (GenTG), the BVL has the legal mandate to publish an official collection of methods of sampling and analysis (ASU) for the following products:
- food, including food additives
- tattoo products
- cosmetic products
- consumer goods
- products which can be confused with foodstuffs
- tobacco products
- animal feed
- samples which are used in the context of the federal states’ legal monitoring of genetic engineering
For this purpose, the ASU office was established at the BVL.
Working groups for method standardisation
For the examination, establishment and standardisation of new methods of sampling and analysis, the ASU office of the BVL hosts various working groups. These working groups consist of experts from the fields of official control, science and industry on equal terms.
The BVL provides a list of the current working groups: (List of working groups in German)
The working groups lay down suitable, already developed methods which are examined and evaluated with regard to their suitability, performance, reliability and comparability, and define the purpose and area of their application. For this purpose, several laboratories carry out method validation studies, which are evaluated by means of statistical procedures.
Source: BVL
In coordination with the working groups, the BVL ensures that the Official Collection is constantly kept up to date.
In addition to the methods standardised and validated by the BVL working groups, methods from other standardisation bodies (e.g. DIN, CEN, ISO) are checked for suitability and, if suitable, are included in the Official Collection in accordance with § 64 (1) and (2) of the German Food and Feed Code, § 38 of the Tobacco Products Act and § 28b (1) of the Genetic Engineering Act.
The working group of tobacco experts, which is affiliated to the ALB-PG for tobacco monitoring, develops relevant methods of analysis and sampling to be included into the Official Collection in accordance with § 38 of the German Tobacco Products Act. In co-operation with the BVL, the working group of tobacco experts ensures that the Official Collection is constantly kept up to date, taking into account new legal provisions and the latest scientific findings.
Information on data protection with regard to the participation in the working groups and the related processing of personal data can be found in the Data Protection Regulation (German)
Publication of the Official Collection of Methods
The Official Collection is divided into six volumes according to the following subject areas:
| Volume I | Food |
| Volume II | Consumer goods |
| Volume III | Cosmetics |
| Volume IV | Tobacco products |
| Volume V | Feed |
| Volume VI | Genetic engineering |
The Official Collection is published by Beuth Verlag GmbH as a loose-leaf compilation as well as an online version. The online version is available free of charge to institutions working in the official control of products subjected to the German Food and Feed Code, Tobacco Products Act and Genetic Engineering Act.
Supplements regularly update the Official Collection. An overview of the current supplements to all available volumes can be found at: “Neues der Methodensammlung BVL Online” (Updates of the ASU).
Prior to the publication of analytical methods for feed, a selected circle of representatives from the fields of science, feed counselling, feed analysis, feed monitoring, agriculture and the involved industries should be consulted in accordance with § 64 (2) of the German Food and Feed Code.
General documents
The BVL makes available documents drawn up and adopted by the working groups, e.g. guidelines. These documents are generally valid and relevant for the performance of official control activities, but do not have the status of an official method of analysis. They can be accessed under "Dokumente der Arbeitsgruppen" listed below on the German website.
Legal importance of the Official Collection of Methods
The Official Collection is a basis for the safe assessment of analytical data and the equal quality of controls throughout Germany. This guarantees the uniform implementation of the existing laws.
To experts, it offers methods which are standardised and may be applied without further reasoning.
Nevertheless, it is up to the responsible authorities of the federal government and of the federal states to oblige the official control laboratories under their authority to apply these methods.
Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 lays down official rules regarding methods and techniques for official controls. Furthermore, Article 34 of the Regulation specifies requirements for the methods to be used for sampling, analyses, tests and diagnoses.
It is not allowed to deviate from methods of analysis and sampling which were stipulated by law as binding.
Harmonisation of analytical methods
With the objective to fully implement the European Single Market and to reduce trade barriers, the BVL promotes the harmonisation of analytical methods through an intensive cooperation with national (DIN, European (CEN) and international standardisation institutions (ISO) as well as with the Codex Alimentarius (in particular CCMAS). Moreover, it supports efforts to submit ASU methods for standardisation at the European level.
Therefore, the BVL delegates members of individual working groups to the relevant national DIN committees and, in order to effectively represent German interests, also to the European and international working committees of CEN/ISO.
Last update: 07.03.2024
