Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed

The European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, RASFF) is a rapid alert system of the European Commission. It is built on the food legislation of the European Parliament of 28 January 2002 ( General Food Law Regulation).

About the National Coordination Units ( in Germany, the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety ) are documented / compound feed and forwarded to the other Member States of the European Union warnings of eye-catching food and officially decreed product recalls of food and feed. About the local coordination sites, where appropriate, there will be a public information. Upon publication of the documentation necessary steps are initiated according to the Commission, already. The integration of food and feed is due to the fact that a number of food scandals had their origin in the feed sector.

The tendency of food safety alerts is increasing. 2009, an increase of 12 % compared to 2008 was recorded. 2010 is the number of messages increased for the third consecutive year, it received a total of 8528 messages. One of the most common hazards in information messages included pathogenic microorganisms, pesticide residues, heavy metals and violations regarding food additives. About half of these informational messages (52 percent) related to products from third countries.

Weekly Report of a Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission is created and made ​​at national level by the [ Federal Office of Consumer Schulz and Food Safety ] (BVL ) published on the Internet. In the reports, the nature and origin of the product concerned, the reason for the warning and the notifying Member State are called. Are not disclosed the names of the companies affected. This is intended to strike a balance between informing the public and the protection of important commercial interests are protected.