General Standards
Being a member state of the European Union, Belgium applies EU trade standards and regulations.
Conformity Assessment
Conformity Assessment is a compulsory step for the manufacturers in the process of conforming to specific EU legislation. The main objective of the conformity assessment is to ensure that the products comply with the EU standards across from design to production, to facilitate acceptance of the final product.
Product Certification
Exporters who want to sell products in the EU market are required to apply CE marking. The CE marking is necessary to allow the product circulate freely within the EU. However, manufacturers can choose not to use the harmonized EU standards, but in this case they must demonstrate that the product meets the essential safety and performance requirements.
Accreditation
Independent test and certification laboratories have been officially accredited by competent national authorities to test and certify to EU requirements. The EU standards setting is carried out by independent standards bodies, acting at the national, European or international level. Some of these bodies are:
1.CEN, European Committee for Standardization
http://www.cen.eu/cen/pages/default.aspx
2.CENELEC, European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
3.ETSI, European Telecommunications Standards Institute
The Belgian Standards Body
" Bureau voor Normalisatie/Bureau de Normalisation" (NBN) - is the Belgian national standards body, responsible for the formulation and publication of standards in Belgium. The Belgian Standards Body was created in 2003. It represents a public organization with a legal personality, that replaced the former Institut Belge de Normalization (IBN/BIN).
NBN standardization activities are divided between "sectorial operators". This method of tasks distribution has given a new drive to standardization in Belgium. It has also improved the participation of the Belgian industry in standardization. The standardization activities of NBN take place at national, European and world level. One of the NBN's main objectives is to stay as close as possible to International standards.
NBN represents Belgium at the European level, as a member of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) as well as at world level, as a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
NBN's website:
Agricultural and Food Standards
Being a member of the European Union, Belgium conforms to all EU regulations and directives regarding food and agricultural standards. It should be mentioned that Belgium also has national specific variation in applying EU harmonized legislation.
The Belgian Food and Drugs Law is called “de Wet betreffende de bescherming van de gezondheid van de gebruikers op het stuk van de voedingsmiddelen en andere produkten / Loi relative à la protection de la santé des consommateurs en ce qui concerne les denrées alimentaires et les autres produits”.
This law, created in 1977, represents the Belgian regulatory framework for all food products. The law applies to both domestically produced and imported food products, as well as to products such as tobacco and cosmetic products. The primary objectives of this law are:
- health protection
- product safety
- ensuring that consumers have correct information about the products
- promotion of fair trade.
Belgium is a federal state, and as a result food standards are regulated at the federal level, while agriculture standards are regulated at the regional level.
Food additives regulations
EU has harmonized rules for food additives, flavorings and enzymes. A detailed information regarding the use of this substances can be found here:
http://www.usda-eu.org/trade-with-the-eu/eu-import-rules/food-additives/
Pesticides regulations
Details on the maximum residue levels of pesticides in food/feed of plant and animal origin, as well as amending can be found on the official EU website:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2005R0396:20080410:EN:PDF
Packaging waste management
EU members are required to take measures to reduce packaging waste. Member States must introduce systems for reuse, recovery and recycling of packaging materials.
In conformity with EU rules, Belgium introduced a ban on the use of BisphenolA, or BPA, in the packaging of food products for children less than 3 years, and also in plastic aitems such as spoons and plates for the same age group.
Labeling Requirements
General requirements comply with those of the European Union:
http://www.usda-eu.org/trade-with-the-eu/eu-import-rules/eu-labeling-requirements/
Specific requirements
Belgium has 4 language areas and as language is a sensitive issue, it is reflected in the labeling requirements. Thus, the label has to be in the language or languages of the language area where the product is being sold/exported. Most food companies use bi-lingual Dutch/French or tri-lingual Dutch/French/German labels, the tri-lingual labels being the most convenient.
Food safety control organizations
The Directorate-General for control of the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV/AFSCA) has the responsibility for food controls. Animal health and plant protection are also within the domain of the FAVV/AFSCA.
The Federal Public Service (FPS) Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment is in charge of policy and legislation on food product standards, contaminants and animal and plant health.
Geographical indications and traditional specialties guaranteed are in the competence of the FPS Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed and Energy.
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV)
Email: info@favv.be
Website: www.favv.be/home-en/
Address: Kruidtuinlaan 55 – 5th floor, B-1000 Brussel, Belgium
Phone: +32 (0)2 211 8211
FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment Directorate-General Animals, Plants and Food
Office Food, Feed and Other consumption Products
Mr. Carl Berthot
E-mail: carl.berthot@health.belgium.be
Address: Eurostation- Bloc II, 7eme étage, Place Victor Horta, 40 Boite 10, B-1060 Brussel, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 524 73 69
Belgian Scientific Institute for Public Health
Mr. Fabien Bolle
Email: fabien.bolle@wiv-isp.be
Adress: Rue Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussel, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 642 52 07
