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02.06.2025 - Foods

Consumer Protection Ministers Conference advocates for the elimination of national laboratory reporting requirements

Berlin, May 23, 2025 – The Consumer Protection Ministers Conference (VSMK), during its meeting in Berlin, under agenda item 35, has advocated for the abolition of the national reporting obligation in food law. The goal is to "reduce bureaucratic effort for both companies and supervisory authorities, and to abolish unnecessary reporting obligations, taking into account the experiences gathered," as stated in the resolution.

The national laboratory reporting obligation, introduced in 2011 according to § 44 paragraphs 4a and 5a of the Food and Feed Act (LFGB), has been criticized for a long time. Expert institutions and industry associations such as the Association of Independent Testing Laboratories (VUP) e.V. and the German Food Association have repeatedly advocated for the abolition or fundamental revision of the regulation.

The BAV Institute for Hygiene and Quality Assurance has also consistently advocated for the repeal or at least the revision of the reporting obligation since its inception in 2011. In close cooperation with the VUP and the German Food Association, the BAV Institute has critically accompanied the regulation and highlighted the practical disadvantages for laboratories, food companies, and supervisory authorities.

The current statements, including the latest position paper from the VUP, summarize the essential arguments against the existing reporting obligation once again.

With the VSMK's resolution, the involved parties now expect that the legislature will promptly initiate legislative steps to abolish the national laboratory reporting obligation.

Further information and current developments on the topic are available on the websites of the involved associations.