Consumer protection

As a consumer, you want to take part in business transactions without endangering your health or your economic interests. Consumer protection shields you from dangers that you would not be able to detect yourself, such as food safety and product safety issues.

Services in Consumer protection

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Ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection
Do you slaughter animals commercially for human consumption? Then you must have the animals officially inspected before and after slaughter.
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Application for renewal of an approved variety
The approval of a variety marketed by you or other registered breeders expires? Then you can apply to the Bundessortenamt (BSA) for an extension of the approval.
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Apply for administrative proceedings in the event of rejection of a basic account
You do not have a current account and your application to open a basic account has been rejected, for example by a bank or savings bank? Then you can apply for administrative proceedings against the institution that rejected your application.
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Apply for approval of a new plant variety
You can only market a new plant variety that you have bred for food or feed for commercial purposes after the Federal Plant Variety Office (BSA) has completed its multi-year growing trial and you have obtained official variety approval.
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Applying for exemptions in accordance with the German Food and Feed Code
If you wish to produce, treat or market foodstuffs in Germany that deviate from national legislation, you can apply for a derogation from the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).
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Applying for information from the site register for genetically modified organisms (non-public part)
You can apply to the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety for information from the non-public part of the site register for genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
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Applying for the creation of a basic payment account with a credit institution
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Buying goods, digital content or services (including financial services) from another Member State, online or in person
Learn more about your consumer rights when you buy goods and services in the EU.
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Citizens' Telephone Military Flight Operations
Do you have questions about military flight operations or would you like to find out about upcoming flight operations? The citizens' telephone "Fluglärm Bundeswehrflugzeuge" can help you.
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Civil protection
Protecting the population from special dangers that cannot be averted by its own efforts is one of the most important tasks of the modern state. According to Article 73 (1) No....
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Communicate information on violations in the context of money laundering supervision (whistleblower system)
If you have information about a violation of the Money Laundering Act (such as: non-identification of a contracting party), you can report this completely anonymously to the competent supervisory authority.
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Complain to the Federal Network Agency about postal and parcel service providers
In case of basic problems with mail or parcel delivery, you can complain to Bundesnetzagentur.
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Complaints about unsolicited e-mails
Spam e-mails are unsolicited and/or unwanted electronic advertising messages sent to you in which services and/or products are advertised.
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Complaints about unsolicited e-mails
Spam e-mails are unsolicited and/or unwanted electronic advertising messages sent to you in which services and/or products are advertised.
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Connection to household utilities
This section provides information on the topics of default supply and household waste disposal.
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Consumer complaints in the field of food control
The (municipal) authorities responsible for food control investigate complaints from consumers concerning food, cosmetics, consumer goods and tobacco products, e.g. in the event...
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Consumer Information Act
Under the Consumer Information Act (VIG) of May 1, 2008, the food monitoring authorities of the federal states are generally obliged to provide you with information. This means...
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Consumer rights and guarantees related to buying goods and services, including procedures for consumer dispute resolution and compensation
Legal guarantee of conformity for goods A. Institute of the statutory warranty Consumers have a right to expect that the goods they have purchased are free of defects. If ...
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Debtor and consumer insolvency advice
In Germany, around 3.2 million households are over-indebted, almost half of which are families with children.Over-indebtedness is when the monthly income over a longer period of...
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Environmental impact assessment / strategic environmental assessment
An environmental assessment is required as part of the planning process (strategic environmental assessment) or the approval process (environmental impact assessment) for a large...
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Expansion of digital infrastructures in Rhineland-Palatinate (broadband)
The state government of Rhineland-Palatinate is promoting the establishment and expansion of digital infrastructures as well as the construction of WLAN hotspots in municipal...
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File a complaint for violation of the provisions of the Geoblocking Regulation
If you want to complain about a provider for violating the provisions of the Geoblocking Regulation, you can file a complaint with the Federal Network Agency.
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Food: Market surveillance
Agricultural products of animal and plant origin are checked by quality inspectors for compliance with the EU and German quality standards, guest characteristics and trade classe...
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Get information on harmful chemicals in everyday items
You can find out whether everyday products contain certain chemicals that are harmful to health and the environment. As a consumer, you can ask the retailer, manufacturer or...
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Lodging a complaint against financial service providers
If you are having problems with a bank, insurance company or other financial service provider, you can lodge a complaint with the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht).
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Mushroom consultation
You were picking mushrooms and are not sure if your collected mushrooms are edible and edible? Then you have the opportunity to visit so-called mushroom advice centres. The...
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Payments, transfers and cheques
Payments in Euros across the EU may not be charged more than equivalent national transactions. Here you can find more information about cross-border payments and transfers in the EU.
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Point of Single Contact
The pan-European network of Points of Single Contact can provide you with details of any legal requirements and help you to complete relevant procedures.
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Poultry meat and eggs: marketing
To simplify the marketing of agricultural products within the Community, there are marketing standards for poultry meat and eggs, among other things. They are intended to make th...
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Privacy
Data protection protects individuals from having their right to informational self-determination impaired by the use of their personal data.
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Rent vehicles
Rent a car There are no special EU regulations for renting a car. s but you can still rely on your basic consumer rights when you rent a car in another EU country. Thes...
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Report dangerous and non-compliant radio equipment
Do you have a radio system in your household that interferes with other devices or could pose a safety risk? Then you should report this to the Federal Network Agency.
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Report faulty and non-compliant electrical products
Do you have an electrical appliance in your household that interferes with other appliances or could pose a safety risk? Then you should report this to the Federal Network Agency.
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Report lost property and make a request
Have you found a valuable item? Then hand it in to the lost and found office and file a lost property report there.
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Report number misuse
If a telephone number is used illegally, the Federal Network Agency can intervene and take appropriate measures. A telephone number may be misused if you are put on hold on ...
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Report radio interference
If you suspect radio interference, you can report it to the test and measurement service of the Federal Network Agency.
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Report suspected adverse reactions and damage to health caused by medicinal products, vaccines or tissue preparations
By reporting suspected cases of side effects or vaccination complications to the authorities, you help to make medicines and vaccines safer.
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Report unauthorised telephone advertising
The term telephone advertising, also known as cold calling, refers to calls that are made with the purpose of selling you goods or offering you services without your prior consen...
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Report undesirable effects and damage to health with cosmetics
If you use cosmetics and adverse effects occur, you can report this. As a manufacturing or trading company, you must report effects with serious health consequences to the authorities.
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Reporting a flight cancellation, delay, denied boarding, upgrade or downgrade
Were you affected by a flight cancellation, delay, involuntary denied boarding or transportation in a lower or higher booking class than the one booked? Then you can file a complaint under certain conditions.
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Reporting violations of the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when traveling by air
If you are denied a flight booking or transportation on a booked flight due to a disability or reduced mobility, or if insufficient assistance is provided by the airport or airline in relation to your flight, you can file a complaint.
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Request arbitration in the event of a dispute with a postal service provider
If you are unable to reach an agreement with a postal service provider in the event of a dispute, the Federal Network Agency can mediate under certain conditions.
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Request arbitration in the event of a dispute with a telecommunications provider
If you have a dispute with your telecommunications provider, you can contact the Federal Network Agency's Telecommunications Arbitration Board under certain conditions. It can help to settle the dispute without having to go to court.
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Submitting a complaint against companies in the financial services sector
Do you believe that a company has violated the German Investment Code? Then you can lodge a complaint with the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). You can use the general complaints procedure to do so.
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Submitting complaints and inquiries in the area of telecommunications
As a customer of an Internet, mobile or fixed network provider, you can find out about your rights and submit inquiries and complaints to the Federal Network Agency.
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Submitting complaints to enforce passenger rights in rail, bus and boat transport
Do you have cause for complaint after a train, bus or boat trip? Then you can contact the Federal Railway Authority (EBA).
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View the location register for genetically modified organisms (public part)
You can consult the site register for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) without submitting an application.
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