Experts for cross-checks Authorisation of tobacco products

This procedure can also be carried out through a "Point of Single Contact". The "Point of Single Contact" is a special service offered by municipalities and the state for service providers.

• Find your Point of Single Contact here

You may only be admitted as a cross-check expert if you:

• are a food chemist with a state examination to become a state-certified food chemist or
• are a licensed veterinarian with a qualification as a specialist veterinarian in the examination area applied for approval or specialist veterinarian for public veterinary matters or
• have a scientific university degree and can prove relevant specialist and legal knowledge by means of suitable documents. If necessary, you must explain the documents to the competent authority.

Admission also requires that you:

• be able to demonstrate two years of investigation and assessment experience in the requested study area, taking into account the requirements specified in Annex 1 of the GPV
• have a testing laboratory according to § 5 GPV (ISO 17025-accredited), which has a corresponding accreditation for the requested investigation area

• § 1 of the Tobacco Products Ordinance (TabakerzV)
• § 2 para. 2 no. 1 of the Tobacco Products Ordinance (TabakerzV)

Written or electronic application for authorisation

• Content of the application:
  • Address of your head office
  • Address of your testing laboratory
  • Registration number of your testing laboratory
• Curriculum vitae of the cross-sample expert to be admitted
• Declaration that no criminal proceedings or public prosecutor's investigations are pending
• Police clearance certificate
• Declaration that the activity as cross-check expert or cross-check expert can be carried out independently and free from a conflict of interest

The informal application should contain the following information:

• Name and address of the expert(s) and the company for which the expert works
• Contact details of the expert(s) and the company
• Address of the expert(s) and the company
• Nature of the activity of the expert(s) and the undertaking
• Proof that you meet the requirements

• LAVES - Download: Appendix 1 to § 2 Abs. 1 Gegenproben-Verordnung – GPV and Annex 3 to § 3 Abs. 5 Gegenproben-Verordnung –

• If you already have an admission in another federal state: 80.00 EUR to 150 EUR (depending on the time required)
• If you are applying for admission for the first time: 370.00 EUR to 600.00 EUR (depending on the time required)

You apply for admission in writing or electronically:

- Submit your application with the necessary supporting documents.

- You will receive an incoming message.

- The dossier shall be examined by the competent authority, If necessary, further proof will be requested.

- After completing the examination of the submitted documents, you will receive either the admission or the rejection of your application by post.

The approved cross-check experts are published on the websites of LAVES and the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety.

There are no deadlines to be observed. The examination of cross-checks or duplicate samples may only be carried out after approval.

• Within one month after complete receipt of all documents, you will receive admission or rejection

Further information is available on the website of the Department of Food Control and Cross-border Trade (LAVES).

• Approval of private experts for the approval of samples

• Cross-Checks Ordinance (GPV)
• § 1 of the Tobacco Products Ordinance (TabakerzV)
• § 2 para. 2 no. 1 of the Tobacco Products Ordinance (TabakerzV)

An appeal against the decision may be lodged within one month.