Germany - Early warning system

Following the recent Dioxin scandal at the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Agriculture has now legally established an early warning system for food products and feedstuff.

The system is part of the “Action plan to guarantee consumer protection in the animal feed chain” that will be implemented on both federal as well as regional level. Food producers and producers of animal feed products are now legally obliged to report all results of self-monitoring dioxin tests. These results will then be evaluated every three months. Furthermore, privately operated laboratories will be obliged to report any concerning quantities of unwanted substances detected in feedstuff. Failure to comply with the obligation to report will be considered a criminal offence.