Authority for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture

Control body in organic farming Apply for approval with restriction to one federal state

If you want to operate a private inspection body for organic farming, you need a license.

Detailed description

Before a product can be marketed as organic food, it must be checked whether its production meets the requirements. In Germany, a system with privately approved inspection bodies has been established for this purpose.



You must apply for approval for an inspection body from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). The approval applies to the entire territory of Germany, but can be limited to individual federal states. The application for approval must be addressed to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food even if the activity only relates to the federal state of Hamburg. The Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food can provide the approval with time limits, conditions and requirements or a reservation of revocation. It can also subsequently change or add new requirements.



The inspection bodies approved by the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food are monitored in Hamburg by the Authority for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • Accreditation
  • Demonstrable quality management
  • Sufficient numbers of qualified inspection point staff (the specific requirements are regulated in the approval regulations)
  • Standard control program for each requested control area
  • written procedures, among other things, for carrying out the controls
  • financial, professional and personnel independence
  • Sufficient insurance cover for all possible damage matters within the scope of the inspection

Documents required

Application addressed to the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food with the following attachments:

  • Proof of accreditation according to the EN 45011 standard
  • Proof of a sufficient number of qualified inspection point personnel
  • Evidence of standard control programs for each area applied for
  • Quality management manual with all procedural instructions
  • Proof of financial, professional and personnel independence
  • Proof of adequate insurance cover for all damage matters affected by the inspection

Additionally for inspection bodies with headquarters or branch in another member state of the European Union:

  • Admission letter from the other country
  • Evidence that the branch has appropriate staff and infrastructure to carry out the control tasks

Please note

Depending on the inspection body's application, testing and approval can include some or all of the following control areas:

  • Control area A:
    • Agricultural production
    • Agricultural production - beekeeping
    • Agricultural production - seaweed and aquaculture
  • Control area B: Manufacture of processed foods
  • Control area C: Trade with third countries (import)
  • Control area D: Outsourcing to third parties
  • Control area E: Production of animal feed

Deadlines

No

Procedure

  • The Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food is responsible for approving your inspection body. You will receive the application documents upon verbal or written request from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food.
  • Submit the completed application together with the required attachments by post to the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food.
  • The Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food examines the application based on the legal requirements.
  • Before approval, the responsible authority carries out an on-site inspection of the business premises.
  • After the examination has been successfully completed, approval is granted.
  • After paying the fees, your inspection point can start operating.

Processing time

The processing time varies depending on the type and scope of the application as well as the quality of the documents submitted.

Fees

There will be charges. These depend on the processing effort.

Legal remedies

contradiction


suit

Legal basis

§ 3 Organic Farming Act (ÖLG)

Links on the Internet

Address and contact information

Authority for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture

We have a limited number of customer parking spaces. To reserve a parking space, please contact our receptionist by e-mail at zugang@bsw.hamburg.de or by telephone on +49 40 428 40 - 50 50. Our working hours are: Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m , Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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Keywords: Certification Organic farming law, approval of inspection bodies farmer Organic farming private inspection body Accreditation Quality control

Last updated: 09.02.2026