International Training for Safer Food
Learn more about the international training courses carried out by the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).
About ITS Food
The International Training for Safer Food (ITS Food) is a training series organised by the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). Since its first edition in 2018, ITS Food has aimed to strengthen food safety and risk management competencies among professionals from public authorities outside the European Union. Since 2022 ITS Food is conducted as virtual event.
Target Audience
ITS Food is specifically designed for staff members of government agencies and public institutions responsible for food safety and public health in non-EU countries. The programme brings together participants from ministries, regulatory bodies, and official laboratories to foster international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Participants will enjoy high-level expertise and hands-on technical exchange and have the opportunity to build new networks with colleagues from around the globe.
Our Objectives
- Enhance knowledge of food safety and risk management practices in Germany and the EU.
- Facilitate exchange of best practices and experiences among international colleagues.
- Promote networking to strengthen global food safety collaboration.
- Support capacity-building in partner countries to improve global and domestic food safety systems.
Format and Duration
The training is conducted live online in half-day sessions and will be scheduled around midday European time to accommodate all time zones.
The training is conducted virtually, allowing for broad international participation. For instance, the 2025 edition spanned five days, accommodating over 1,300 participants from 112 countries, making it the most attended session to date.
Despite its virtual nature, ITS Food emphasises interactive participation. Attendees engage in discussions, share experiences, and establish cross-border connections, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
The training is free of charge.
Thematic Focus
Every year, ITS Food spotlights specific issues to address global food safety challenges.
These topics are explored through expert-led presentations by BVL as well as other national, European, and international authorities and institutions. Panel discussions and interactive Q&A sessions offer additional opportunities for exchange.
Each training provides insights into the legal background, risk management strategies and practical approaches, laboratory methods and food safety controls. Participants will increase their level of expertise, share and identify best practices in their field of work, check out various tools for the different tasks and take-home knowledge to share with colleagues.
We intend to address relevant aspects to establish and maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date risk management for safe food, feed and consumer products around the globe.