lebensmittelrechtliche

Lebensmittelrechtliche is an adjective referring to matters of Lebensmittelrecht, the body of law governing foods intended for human consumption. It covers the way foods are produced, processed, marketed and labelled to ensure safety, transparency and fair trade. The term is used to describe regulatory requirements that food business operators must observe, as well as the powers of authorities to supervise and enforce compliance.

Scope includes safety and hygiene (HACCP-based systems, preventive controls), labeling and information (ingredient lists, allergen declarations, nutrition and health claims), food additives, processing aids, packaging and storage, traceability, and prohibition of misleading advertising. It also includes controls over contaminants, residues, and compliance with import, export and marketing rules. In addition, it addresses compliance with official controls and recall procedures.

Legal framework: At the European level, lebensmittelrechtliche rules derive from Regulation (EC) 178/2002 as the general principle law, Regulation (EC) 852/2004 on hygiene, Regulation (EC) 853/2004 on animal-origin foods, and Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 on food information to consumers, among others. The German national law is codified in the Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch (LFGB) and implements EU rules; the Lebensmittel-Informationsverordnung (LMIV) governs labeling and information. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides scientific risk assessments. Enforcement is carried out by competent authorities at EU member-state level and border controls.