Service Finder
Applying for approval of an inspection body for organic farming
Service Description
Before a product can be marketed as organic food, it must be checked whether its production meets the requirements. In Germany, a system of privately approved inspection bodies has been established for this purpose.
You must apply to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE) for approval of an inspection body. The approval applies to the whole of Germany, but can be restricted to individual federal states.
The BLE can impose time limits, conditions and requirements or a reservation of revocation on the approval. It can also subsequently change or add new conditions.
The organic inspection bodies are monitored by the inspection authorities responsible for organic farming in the federal states in which the respective inspection body has its headquarters.
Process flow
The Federal Office for Agriculture and Food is responsible for approving your inspection body.
-
Submit the completed application form together with the required attachments by post to the BLE.
- You will receive the application documents on verbal or written request from the BLE.
- The BLE will check the application against the legal requirements.
Depending on the inspection body's application, inspection and approval may cover some or all of the following inspection areas:
-
Control area A:
- Agricultural production
- Agricultural production - beekeeping
- Agricultural production - seaweed and aquaculture
- Control area B: Production of processed food
- Control area C: Trade with third countries (import)
- Control area D: Contracting out to third parties
- Control area E: Production of animal feed
Prior to approval, the competent body carries out an on-site inspection of the business premises.
Once the inspection has been successfully completed and the fees have been paid, your inspection body can commence operations.
Who should I contact?
Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food
Deichmanns Aue 29
53179 Bonn
Phone: +49 228 9968450
Fax: +49 228 68453101
Internet:
www.ble.de
Competent authority
Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food
Deichmanns Aue 29
53179 Bonn
Phone: +49 228 9968450
Fax: +49 228 68453101
Internet:
www.ble.de
Requirements
- Accreditation
- Quality management
- a sufficient number of qualified inspection body personnel. The specific requirements are set out in the accreditation regulations.
- Standard inspection program for each requested inspection area
-
Written procedures, including for the implementation of the
- inspection
- evaluation and certification
- Documentation of inspection results
- sanctioning
- Risk analysis
- Sampling and charging
- Financial, professional and personal independence
- Sufficient insurance cover for all possible damage issues arising from the inspection
Which documents are required?
- Proof that you meet the requirements. You can request the application documents and further information from the BLE.
What are the fees?
Costs are incurred. These depend on the processing costs. The maximum fee is currently EUR 9780.00.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
You do not have to meet any deadlines.
Processing duration
Application review: maximum 3 months.
The period begins when the documents are complete.
Legal basis
Appeal
Forms: yes
Online procedure possible: no
Written form required: yes
Personal appearance required: no
Further Information
- Guidelines for companies seeking approval as a private inspection body on the website of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food
- List of inspection bodies approved in the Federal Republic of Germany on the website of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food
- Information on organic farming on the website of the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food
- Central Internet portal for organic farming - a website of the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
- Inspection bodies in organic farming Approval
Remark: Display of performance in the source portal
Technically approved by
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Professionally released on
28.05.2021
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)
Competent Authority
Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE)
Address
53179 Bonn, Stadt
Remark: Head office Bonn-Mehlem
Opening times
Monday to Friday: 9:00 to 13:00
