Consumer protection

Health risks can arise from facilities, products or food. It is the task of consumer protection to identify these risks and thereby protect the health of consumers.

Services in Consumer protection

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Application for inclusion of a smoke flavoring primary product in the Community list of authorized primary products
If you want to use a new smoke flavoring in or on food, you must have it approved at European level. If approved, the smoke flavoring will be placed on the EU Community list of primary products.
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Apply for approval as a testing laboratory for raw milk
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Apply for general rulings for foodstuffs
Would you like to import foodstuffs that are legally marketed or manufactured in another EU Member State but deviate from German health protection regulations? Then you can apply for a general ruling.
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Applying for approval of a new plant variety
A new plant variety that you have bred for food or feed can only be marketed for commercial purposes after completion of several years of cultivation testing by the Federal Plant Variety Office (BSA) and official variety approval.
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Applying for approval of health claims on foods
Health claims on foods generally require authorization. You can apply for this authorization via the European Commission's E-Submission Food Chain (ESFC) platform.
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Applying for approval of novel tobacco products
Novel tobacco products, for example heated tobacco products, may only be placed on the market if they have been approved. You can apply for approval from the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).
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Applying for the renewal of an authorized variety
Is the approval of a variety marketed by you or other registered breeders expiring? Then you can apply to the Federal Plant Variety Office (BSA) for an extension of the approval.
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Children and young people in care
Is the welfare of a child or young person at risk? If you have any indications of this, you can contact the responsible youth welfare office.
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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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Cosmetics: Report undesirable effects and damage to health
In rare cases, cosmetics can trigger undesirable effects such as skin irritation. Information from consumers on this is important for authorities and manufacturers. Manufacturers or retailers must report effects with serious health consequences to the authorities.
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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 larg...
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Filing a complaint due to lack of price transparency
If the final price and price components of a flight booking are not shown or not shown transparently, you can file a complaint. This also applies if optional services are preset or prices are discriminated against on the basis of your nationality or place of residence.
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Help for unaccompanied refugee minors
When an unaccompanied minor refugee enters Germany, all necessary measures must be taken to protect the welfare of the child on the basis of the Eighth Social Code (SGB VIII)....
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Initiate or apply for the indexing of a medium harmful to minors
If you as an authority or youth welfare organization consider the content of a medium to be harmful to minors, you can apply to the Federal Agency for the Protection of Children and Young Persons in the Media (BzKJ) for an indexing procedure or initiate one.
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Laying hen farm register and producer codes
Since January 1, 2004, only eggs from a farm for which an identification number has been issued and which are marked with a corresponding producer code may be placed on the marke...
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Lodge a complaint against financial service providers
If you are of the opinion that a bank or insurance company in the financial services sector has not behaved correctly towards you, you can lodge a complaint with the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
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Metrology and calibration
The State Office of Metrology and Verification Rhineland-Palatinate is responsible for the enforcement of legal metrology regulations, regulations under the Medical Devices Act...
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Online appointments
Appointments are often also assigned online.
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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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Report possible discrimination in access to railroads and railroad service facilities
If you as a company feel that your access to the railroad infrastructure is restricted, you can submit a discrimination complaint to the Federal Network Agency.
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Report price agreements and other restrictive agreements between companies
Cartels harm the economy as a whole and, above all, consumers. If competitors coordinate their behavior on a market in order to restrict or eliminate competition, this is known...
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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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Request consultation procedure for novel foods
Would you like to launch a food on the German market and are unsure whether it is to be classified as a novel food? Then you can apply to the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) for a consultation procedure.
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Request image files for labeling tobacco packaging or cigarette packs with text-image warnings
As a manufacturer or importer of cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and water pipe tobacco, you must print text and image warnings on your cigarette and tobacco packaging. You can obtain the image files from the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety.
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Send inquiries to the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt
If you have any questions for the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) or comments on its tasks, you are welcome to contact the LBA directly.
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Submit a complaint due to missing or insufficient information about the identity of the operating air carrier
If you were not informed about the operating airline, or were not informed in good time, or if you were not offered alternative transportation or reimbursement of ticket costs in the event of a flight cancellation with a company classified as unsafe, you can file a complaint.
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Submit an application for the use of a term as a common traditional name as an exception to the application of Article 1(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Designations that can be interpreted as a health claim may be used without an approval procedure, provided that an approved health claim is attached. You can apply for an exemption from this regulation for traditional names.
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Submit product information texts
As a pharmaceutical company, you must submit the product information texts to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) via a specialist application once the procedure has been completed. The texts will be published.
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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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Violence against children and young people
Do you suspect that a child or young person in your environment is a victim of violence or abuse? Then talk to them or contact the youth welfare office.