Apply for approval as a classification undertaking for carcasses of cattle, pigs and sheep

If your company classifies carcasses of cattle, pigs and sheep in statutory commercial classes and categories, you need an approval. You can apply for this from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE).

Companies that classify carcasses of cattle, pigs and sheep into statutory commercial classes and categories require approval. They can apply for this from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE).

The classification of carcasses is the categorization of carcasses into legal trade classes and categories. Classification is carried out according to defined rules. Animal characteristics such as age, sex and castration as well as meat characteristics such as muscle fullness and meat-to-fat ratio are used for evaluation.

Classification according to uniform standards is aimed at the uniform assessment and price evaluation of meat in trade on the basis of qualitative characteristics.

• Completed application
• Proof that your company can carry out the classification properly in accordance with the relevant trade class legislation
• Proof that the personnel intended for the classification have the required authorization
• Extract from the company's organizational structure
• Extract from the central trade register
• Copy of the partnership agreement or articles of association

• Your company has a branch or an address for service in Germany.
• Your company fulfills the requirements of the standard "DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020:201207 Type A". Certification by an accreditation body is not required.
• Your company demonstrably works independently, reliably and competently.
• Your company has a sufficient number of employees who are authorized to classify meat.

• Appeal:

You will find information on how to lodge an objection in the notification of your application.

You can apply for approval as a classification company online or by post to the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE).

Apply for approval online:

• Call up the online application in the federal portal. This will guide you step by step through the necessary information.
• Upload the required documents and submit the application online. Alternatively, you can print out the completed online application and send it to the BLE by post with the required documents.
• The BLE will check your application documents and contact you if anything is unclear or information is missing.
• If the documents and information are complete, you will receive a provisional approval notice.
• The BLE will arrange for an on-site inspection at your classification company (office audit) and inspections at the slaughterhouses (witness audits) where your classification company operates.
• If no deficiencies are found during these inspections, you will receive a final approval notice valid for 5 years.
• You will also receive a fee notice.
• You pay the fee.

Apply for approval by post:

• First apply for the application form. You can do this informally by sending an e-mail or a letter to the BLE's Department 524.
• Complete the application form you receive.
• Send the completed and signed application form with the required documents by post to the BLE.
• The BLE will check your application documents and contact you if anything is unclear or information is missing.
• If the documents and information are complete, you will receive a provisional approval notice.
• The BLE will arrange for an on-site inspection at your classification company (office audit) and inspections at the slaughterhouses (witness audits) where your classification company operates.
• If no deficiencies are found during these inspections, you will receive a final approval notice valid for 5 years.
• You will also receive a fee notice.
• You pay the fee.

The fees for the approval of a classification company amount to EUR 290.00. In addition, there are fees for the on-site inspection, which are made up of a basic amount and the on-site inspection days.: Fee 290,00 EUR

Base amount for the on-site inspection of the approval requirements. The basic amount depends on the number of slaughterhouses for which the classification company is active.: Fee from 290,00 EUR to 630,00 EUR

Fees for one day or part thereof of the on-site examination.: Fee 810,00 EUR