LFGB
LFGB - Foodstuffs Commodities Ordinance & Porcelain
The term "LFGB" comes from the German derivation Lebensmittel & FuttermittelGesetzBuch. The purpose of this law is to ensure the protection of human health in the private domestic sphere by preventing or averting a danger that emanates or may emanate from products, insofar as this is stipulated in this law. The Foodstuffs, Commodities and Animal Feed Code came into force as a federal law in Germany on 7 September 2005. It largely replaced the provisions of the Foodstuffs and Commodities Ordinance.
The Consumer Goods Ordinance (BedGgstV) specifies which materials are permitted for consumer goods and food packaging and how high the level of contamination on the body or from the packaging into the food may be. The predecessor of the LFGB was the LMBG - the provisional tobacco law of the Federal Republic of Germany. The law was passed in 1974 as the Foodstuffs and Commodities Act (LMBG). The LMBG was the legal basis for the processing and placing on the market of food and food contact materials. It was replaced by the Tobacco Products Act with effect from 20 May 2016. The LMBG was almost completely replaced by the German Food, Commodities and Feed Code on 7 September 2005 with the publication of the German Food and Feed Code (LFGB) in the Federal Law Gazette. Only regulations on tobacco products remain in place. Since 1 September 2005, the new title of the law has been "Provisional Tobacco Act".
The entry into force of the LFGB has not expressly repealed the regulations of the BedGgstV and in our opinion - as of 9/2019 - both laws are still valid. You can download both ordinances from our "Standards & specifications" download area. The LFGB implements European law and European standards and harmonises them on a country-specific basis.
With regard to porcelain and ceramic tableware, the LFGB limits the emission of harmful substances that could potentially be transferred from tableware to food and drinks. The LFGB therefore primarily represents consumer health protection. Please also read the Responsibility section.
You would think that the LFGB applies to all EU member states of the European Union, but unfortunately this is not the case. The French form of the German LFGB is called "DGCCRF" and is also available in our download area "Standards & specifications". Although both member states implement European standards, the requirements regarding the number and weighting of the hazardous substances to be analysed are different.
If you are a member of the catering and hotel industry and use crockery and porcelain for commercial purposes, please use our "Airbag for porcelain purchases" to protect yourself from damage.
The following video shows how seriously we take the issue of food hygiene. LFGB quality assurance - we don't stop at a one-off test! New collections and decorative goods in particular are analysed on a recurring basis, as decisive factors can change from production to production. This video shows that we put the well-being of our customers before the economic interests of our company!