QS. Quality scheme for food.

Around 90 % of the fruit, vegetables and potatoes grown in Germany are QS certified. The QS inspection system ensures thorough and reliable quality assurance based on clearly defined and coordinated requirements from farm to shop. The standards apply across borders and simplify international trade in goods. Independent auditors monitor whether and how the requirements are fulfilled. The front-to-end inspections form the basis for the consistent process control and traceability in the QS scheme.

Fruit, vegetables and potatoes may only be labelled with the QS certification mark if their production and marketing from farm to shop have been thoroughly audited. The clear labelling of products from controlled production and marketing with the QS certification mark underlines the commitment of all involved parties to safe food products.

We have compiled the requirements for use of the QS certification mark for you in a style guide.

Businesses that deliver fruit, vegetables and potatoes into the QS scheme actively participate in the residue monitoring. The requirements for producers, wholesalers and food retailers are defined in a risk-oriented control plan. Laboratories who would like to conduct analyses within the residue monitoring need an approval for the QS scheme.

Systematic quality assurance is the best crisis prevention: by providing clearly defined requirements and functioning control mechanisms, QS helps to ensure that crises do not occur in the first place. Despite these efforts, unforeseeable incidents can still occur in production and marketing. QS has built up a comprehensive incident and crisis management system for such cases.

Experienced crisis managers support the scheme participants both on the operational front and in the area of crisis communication. Please use the adjacent form to report an incident.