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Foodstuffs from an EU Member State; application for a general ruling

Would you like to import foodstuffs that are legally marketed or manufactured in another EU Member State but deviate from German health protection regulations? Then you can apply for a general ruling.

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Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit - Dienststelle Berlin Gerichtstraße
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Procedure details

Foodstuffs that are legally on the market in a member state of the European Union may, in principle, be imported into other member states and sold there, even if they do not comply with national regulations. In Germany, the following restriction applies: If your product deviates from the German health protection regulations, you require a general ruling. You can apply for this from the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).

In your application, you must describe your product and state how it deviates from the regulations. The BVL can only issue general rulings for products that are harmless to health. The BVL checks this point with the help of your proof of the product's recipe. The BVL also takes into account scientific assessments by other authorities, for example the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.

General rulings issued by the BVL apply not only to the individual product in question, but also to all similar products imported from the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). A general ruling must therefore only ever be applied for by the company that first wishes to import the product in question into Germany. General rulings are published in the Federal Gazette.

  • Your product is a foodstuff.
  • Your product is not expected to pose a risk to health.
  • Your product is lawfully marketed in a member state of the EU or another contracting state of the EEA
  • Your product deviates from the German health protection regulations

  • Required document/s
    • exact recipe of the product with all ingredients and the corresponding quantities and the indication of the ingredients with exact chemical name
    • Packaging designs for the German market
    • Packaging with which the product is already on the market
    • Specification of complex ingredients and documents from which their safety can be derived
    • for the use of flavorings, enzymes and additives: Confirmation or documentary evidence that the legal requirements for these substances have been met
    • official proof from an EU member state or contracting state of the European Economic Area that your product was legally manufactured there or is legally on the market there (usually proof of a corresponding legal maximum content or a certificate of marketability)
    • if the application is made by proxy: Power of attorney

You can apply for the general ruling online via the federal portal, by e-mail or by post.

Apply for a general ruling online via the federal portal:

  • Call up the online application on the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de. This will guide you step by step through the necessary information, which you can enter electronically.
  • Upload the required documents as a file and submit the application.
  • You will receive confirmation that your application has been received.
  • The BVL will check your details and documents and forward them to the other competent authorities.
  • The BVL will contact you if further documents or information are required.
  • You will receive a notification of approval digitally via the feedback channel function of the federal portal or by post.
  • The general ruling will be published in the Federal Gazette.

Apply for a general ruling by e-mail or post:

  • Call up the online application on the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de. Complete the application online and save it as a print preview.
  • Attach all the necessary documents.
  • Send your application to the BVL by e-mail. Alternatively, you can send the application and all necessary documents to the BVL by post.
  • You will receive confirmation that your application has been received.
  • The BVL will check your details and documents and forward them to the other competent authorities.
  • The BVL will contact you if further documents or information are required.
  • You will receive a notification of approval by post.

The general ruling will be published in the Federal Gazette.

There are no costs.

The processing period begins as soon as the BVL has received a complete application and there are no further questions for you. If the BVL has further questions, processing may take longer. You will then be notified accordingly. (90 days)

  • Appeal. Further information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the information on legal remedies in the notification of your application.
  • Appeal to the administrative court. You can find further information on how to lodge a complaint in the legal remedies information in the notice of objection.

Status: 03.11.2024
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Behörden und sonstige Einrichtungen
Source: Federal Portal
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