Federal Office for Agriculture and Food

Authorities monitoring compliance with technical regulations

In Germany, the federal states are responsible for the inspection of food.

The Federal States' ministries of consumer protection or food are, as highest food inspection authorities, responsible for the implementation of the official inspection of food and govern its organisation. The responsibility for the direct food inspection lies with the local food inspection offices that are attached to the county and municipal administrations.

The official food inspection's task is to protect consumers from health hazards and fraud. Thus, the official inspection of foodstuffs controls if all legal regulations that apply to the marketing of products are complied with.

List of the highest Authorities in the Federal States/Food Inspection Authority