Bundesstelle

Bundesstelle is a German term used to denote a federal central office or agency in German-speaking countries. It describes a government body that operates at the federal level to carry out nationwide tasks within a specific policy area. The exact status, powers, and organizational form of a Bundesstelle vary by country and by founding law; in many cases a Bundesstelle is subordinate to one or more federal ministries, while in others it may be an independent public-law institution or an executive agency.

Functions typically associated with a Bundesstelle include implementing federal policies, coordinating activities across Länder or cantons, collecting and maintaining national data or registries, issuing licenses or approvals, standard-setting, research coordination, and providing specialized services to government or the public. Some Bundesstellen maintain regional or local offices to support nationwide operations, while others function as centralized bodies.

In practice, the label Bundesstelle is primarily descriptive. Entities with this name can differ significantly in legal status between countries and even within a country over time. The concept is contrasted with ministries (which set policy) and with other federal institutions such as independent authorities or agencies focused on enforcement, statistics, or culture. The term is most common in German-speaking states of Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland, reflecting administrative traditions focused on centralization and specialized expertise at the federal level.