We have summarized the evaluations from the QS feed monitoring for the year 2020 for you in the PDF document "kompakt - Facts and figures on contaminants in feed" .

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

The United Nations has declared 7 June as World Food Safety Day. Every year since 2019, this day has drawn attention worldwide to the health consequences of contaminated and rotten food. The fact that consumers in Germany can rely on safe fresh food is also the aim of the 150,000 participants in...

The slower rate of infection has led to a certain relaxation of the situation in the corona crisis. To ensure that this will remain this way, the consistent implementation of additional hygiene and infection protection measures is still the priority. In order to support its scheme participants...

The new issue of the QS-Report Meat and Meat Products is now available in our media catalogue on the QS company website .

Due to the spread of the coronavirus, we had strongly recommended to refrain from conducting all QS audits in the past two months. In view of the current slowdown in the incidence of infection and the relaxation that has already taken place in many areas of life, we now consider the conduct of...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

The new issue of the QS Report for the fruit and vegetable industry is now available in our media catalogue on the QS company website .

In addition to FAQs on the QS scheme, on participation in the scheme and on questions from the individual scheme stages, QS now also offers a separate question-answer area on its company website for laboratories active in the QS scheme.

The additional control plan for aflatoxin B1 was revised with effect from April 29, 2020. Based on the available results for aflatoxin B1 in maize, the revised version contains a new risk assessment for Spain.

In order to further optimize the service of the ICRT (International Committee Road Transport) and to make lasting improvements to the IDTF database (International Database Transport for Feed) in the interest of the certified companies, the ICRT conducted an Online Survey last December and January.

The supporting document Labelling of QS products serves scheme participants as support for the correct implementation of the labelling of QS products on the accompanying documents. The document is now also available in Italian and Spanish - in addition to a German and English version.  ...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

In order to support producers in the current corona crisis in the best possible way with regard to hygiene, infection protection and prevention, QS provides in its Infoportal on the coronavirus information posters in seven languages on hand hygiene as well as on the most important general...

QS has revised the structure and layout of the style guide for the use of the QS certification mark, further specifying the rules for use on composite products. The new version of the style guide can now be downloaded from the QS website .

The fruit, vegetable and potato industry is defying the corona crisis with high flexibility and proven routines in hygiene and quality assurance. On this basis, the production companies raise the level of protection against infection ad hoc and teach decisive quality and hygiene standards to...

Due to the current spread of the coronavirus, the eligibility of delivery of all QS certified locations will be extended by two months . According to the extended QS eligibility of delivery, necessary QS audits can be postponed to a later date.

Due to the progressive spread of the coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2), QS urgently recommends its system partners to refrain from carrying out all QS audits within the next two months. Prior to this, QS had already pointed out to all partners in the QS network the possibility of postponing upcoming...

In view of the current spread of the coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2) , QS has already pointed out that upcoming audit dates can be postponed at the discretion and after consultation with the respective certification body. This regulation also applies to the annual audits that must be carried out for...

Together with experts from industry and science, QS has developed a supporting document for slaughterhouses, deboning- and processing-plants to determine the risk of Listeria monocytogenes occurrence and reduce it if necessary. The supporting document shows how the risk of Listeria can be...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

In mid-February 2020, the Standing Committee on Pesticide Residues (SCoPAFF) approved the EU draft regulation (SANTE 10684/2015, Rev.9) setting specific maximum residue levels (MRLs) for chlorate by qualified majority. This provides binding MRL for chlorate in various products and product groups...

The interactive world map on the QS homepage for QS feed monitoring has been expanded to include the latest analysis results (period 07/2019 - 12/2019). It now includes analysis results for more than 25 product groups from 60 countries of origin. In addition to a detailed overview of raw...

To enable QS scheme participants to check the eligibility of delivery of their customers at any time, QS has set up a so-called back-up system in the QS Database. In the case that the QS-Database is not accessible - e.g. in the course of maintenance periods - QS scheme participants can use the...

With effect from February 10, 2020 QS has revised the additional control plan for aflatoxin B1. The revised version of the additional control plan contains a new risk assessment for the Czech Republic.

As a tradition on the opening day of Fruit Logistica, on February 4, 2020, the laboratory managers' meeting on residue monitoring took place in Berlin again this year. The invitation of QS was accepted by a total of 122 responsible employees of the laboratories from 12 countries that are active...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

On 28 January 2020, a QS information event was held in Leuven for coordinators, wholesalers, preparation and processing companies and logistics companies in the fruit and vegetable sector. The event, which was organised by QS in cooperation with the Verbond Van Belgische Tuinbouwcoöperaties...

When the entire fresh fruit and vegetable industry meets at Fruit Logistica 2020 in Berlin, QS will of course be there - under the motto: More than the standard - together in the market . The most important trade fair for the fresh fruit and vegetable trade will open its doors in Berlin from...

On 22 January 2020, QS in cooperation with CSO Italy conducted a sampling training course in Italy on QS residue monitoring. The training, which was aimed at wholesalers, coordinators and laboratories active in the QS scheme, was attended by 20 participants. The sampling training, which was...

In autumn 2019, QS put the analytical competence of the QS-recognized laboratories and those in the recognition process from Germany and abroad to the test for the 27th time. The focus of the autumn test was on analysis, with the raspberry functioning as the test matrix.  

In the course of the last laboratory performance assessment in autumn 2019, the number of participating laboratories from abroad was further increased. The 77 participants included laboratories from 16 countries, including non-EU countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Turkey and Switzerland. This...

To further optimise the IDTF database (International Database Transport for Feed) , the ICRT (International Committee Road Transport) has been conducting an online survey since the beginning of December 2019. The database summarises all minimum requirements of the European standard setters...

As part of the 2020 revision, now all revised and new supporting documents have been published on our QS website since 15 January 2020 and are available for you to download.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

As the leading standard provider for safe fresh food in Germany and a reliable partner along the value chain, QS supports the active dialogue between society and modern agriculture at the Event Farm at this year's International Green Week (IGW) . Visit us from 17 - 26 January at our joint stand...

In addition to a German and English version, the QS checklists for audits carried out from 1 January 2020 onwards are now also available in Spanish in the document centre of the QS website and in the database. This will further simplify the conduct of audits for Spanish speaking scheme...

The QS guidelines from the meat, livestock farming and feed sectors were revised in the course of the 2020 revision in terms of both content and editing and adapted to practical use and legal requirements. The valid documents are now available in our Document Center and can be downloaded. We...

The revised QS guidelines have been valid since 1 January 2020. They can now be viewed and downloaded in the Documentcenter of the QS company website.  

36 of the 38 participating laboratories from Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland and Denmark achieved a positive result in the 2019 QS round robin test for laboratories in QS salmonella monitoring. They were asked to test ten meat juice and ten serum samples with different...

QS and the Danish standard Danish Agriculture and Food Council (DAFC) have agreed to extend their mutual recognition, already existing since 2006, for another two years.

Before we start the year 2020 full of optimism, we would like to thank you for the good and successful cooperation in 2019.

On 1 January 2020, the revised Guideline Feed Sector will enter into force. We have already compiled the most important changes for the feed sector in advance:  

From now on, the guidelines valid for the coming year 2020 can be viewed and downloaded in the document centre of the QS company website. You can also download the revised checklists for audits to be carried out from 1 January 2020.  

The additional control plan for Aflatoxin B1 in maize has been revised with effect from 11 December 2019. Based on the available results for Aflatoxin B1, the revised version includes new risk classifications for Italy, Hungary and Ukraine.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

The IDTF (International Database Transport for Feed) database of the ICRT (International Committee Road Transport) summarises the minimum requirements for the cleaning of European standard providers for the road transport of bulk feed. To further optimise the database, the ICRT will conduct an...

The autumn issue of the QS Report Meat and Meat Products has been published and can now be read and downloaded in the media catalogue of the QS website. To receive the QS report regularly and free of charge by e-mail, please register on the QS website under Press & Publications .

ICOP 2019, one of the most important international congresses for producer organisations in the fruit and vegetable sector, will take place in Hamburg from 20 to 22 November 2019. As in the previous year, QS is supporting the event as main sponsor and will be represented with an information stand.

In addition to the German and English languages, the QS software platform is now also available in a Spanish version. The new version makes the use of the database much easier and more comfortable for Spanish-speaking QS scheme participants, coordinators as well as employees of certification...

On January 1, 2020, a new version of the guideline Diagnostic Data in Poultry Slaughter will be valid. The revised version contains essential changes in the indication of reasons for rejection as well as in the recording of breast skin changes.

From 21 October to 3 November, all QS scheme participants, auditors and interested parties are invited to participate in the commentary for the QS scheme manual. With immediate effect, you have the opportunity to comment on the QS guidelines valid from January 1, 2020 on the QS company page.

QS has revised the additional control plan for aflatoxin B1 with effect from 23 September 2019. As a result of updated weather data, existing results of the new harvest and classifications carried out at the beginning of the harvest in recent years, new risk classifications for several countries...

The new issue of the QS-Report Fruit, Vegetables, Potatoes has been published and is now available in our media catalogue on the QS website.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

In recent years, FAMI-QS, a worldwide standard for the safety of special feed ingredients, and QS have strengthened and expanded their collaboration. Since June last year, QS-certified feed producers have had the opportunity to supply their goods to the FAMI-QS system and vice versa on the basis...

In addition to IFS Logistics, IFS Food, IFS Wholesale, IFS Cash & Carry and BRC Global Standard for Storage & Distribution, QS now also recognizes the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety as an equivalent standard for storage companies of meat and meat products in the QS scheme.

Last week QS was represented at two congresses, ICoMST and PROGNOSFRUIT. At the ICoMST 2019, which took place from August 4 to 9 in Potsdam, QS appeared for the first time as a sponsor with its own information stand. QS used the congress to present the services of the QS inspection system to a...

Great events cast their shadows ahead! From 5 to 9 October 2019, Anuga, the world's largest trade fair for the food industry, will open its doors in Cologne. At this year's edition of the food fair, in which more than 7,500 exhibitors from more than 100 countries took part in 2017, QS will of...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

With effect from 05 August 2019, the additional control plan Aflatoxin B1 was revised. The revised version contains a new risk classification for Ukraine, based on the available results for aflatoxin B1.

Due to a clarification, the Feed Monitoring Guideline was revised on 1 August 2019. The new version can now be viewed and downloaded from the Document Center on the QS website .

The 44th PROGNOSFRUIT will take place in Alden-Biesen (Belgium) from 7 to 9 August 2019. This year QS will again be represented with an information stand at the annual congress of the international pome fruit industry and will also act as sponsor of the event. At the QS stand, the conference...

In spring 2019, QS put the analytical competence of QS-approved laboratories in Germany and abroad to the test for the 26th time. They were faced with the challenge of identifying eight active substances added to the onion test matrix, two of them using individual methods. Of a total of 65...

The 65th edition of the International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST) will take place in Potsdam/Berlin from 4 to 9 August 2019. This year, QS will be represented at the event for the first time with an information stand and will also act as a sponsor. At the QS stand, congress...

This year's random sample audits for the system chains fruit, vegetables, potatoes as well as meat and meat products started at the beginning of this week. As in previous years, the implementation period will range from July to December. New this year is that for the first time all random sample...

For QS-certified feed companies using the VLOG add-on module, it is now much easier to supply French farmers with GMO-free feed. The reason for this trade facilitation is that since 1 June 2019, the French feed standard owner OQUALIM has recognised VLOG certifications as equivalent and vice...

As of now, samples taken within the independent residue monitoring scheme FoodSecuritas are fully recognised in the QS residue monitoring fruit, vegetables and potatoes. The agreement between the Spanish company Food Experts S.L. and QS benefits wholesalers and producers of fruit and...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

The QS Advisory Board on Cattle and Pigs‘ last meeting decided to revise the Feed Monitoring Guideline and Annex 8.2 Table of Limit- and QS Guideline Values on 1 July 2019.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

This year QS offered several information events in Italy for scheme participants and interested parties of the value chain fruit, vegetables and potatoes. Among those present were wholesalers, producer organisations, laboratories, certification bodies and auditors. Near Verona and in Salerno,...

High-quality and safe feed is crucial for an optimal nutrition of the animals. Feed is therefore also a particularly important part of the food value chain. The reliable work of the laboratories, which analyse feed for possible undesirable substances, is a decisive building block. In the QS...

The new issue of the QS-Report Meat and Meat Products has been published fresh from the press and can be read and downloaded in the media catalog of the QS company website.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

A new issue of the QS report fruit, vegetables, potatoes has been published and can now be read and downloaded in the media catalog of the QS website. Cover story of the current issue: In recent months, QS has been able to significantly increase the share of fruit and vegetables with the...

No more winter grey - now it's getting colorful again! Our whole team wishes you, your employees and your family a wonderful and relaxing Easter holiday with plenty of sunshine!

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

QS ha reforzado las normas de seguridad para la creación de contraseñas en la plataforma de software QS y redefinido la política de contraseñas de acuerdo con las recomendaciones de la Oficina Federal Alemana de Seguridad de la Información (BSI por sus iniciales en alemán) .

QS has tightened the security rules for password creation in the QS software platform and redefined the password policy according to the recommendations of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI for its initials in German) .

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

With effect from 5 March 2019, the additional control plan Aflatoxin B1 valid thus far is revised. In the revised version, a new classification of risk was made for Romania.

The QS Advisory Board for Poultry has decided to expand the report of diagnostic data in poultry slaughtering. The guideline Data collection in poultry slaughtering will be adapted with effect from 1 March 2019.

The interactive world map on the QS homepage for QS feed monitoring has been extended by the latest analysis results (period 07/2018 - 12/2018). The countries of origin Morocco and Norway are new, so that the map now contains the analysis results of 56 countries. In addition to a detailed...

As part of our media collaboration with the international magazine Eurofruit, the fifth and thus for the time being the last article about the QS requirements for companies in the fruit and vegetable sector has been published. In the current issue, we give an overview of the role of the...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

With effect from 1 February 2019, the additional control plan Aflatoxin B1 valid thus far is revised. In the revised version, a new classification of risk was made for Slovakia.

QS has published a new supporting document for its scheme participants from the feed sector to support their incident and crisis management. This is intended to support companies in the event of an incident or crisis and provide assistance on necessary procedures and measures to be taken.

As part of our media cooperation with the international magazine Eurofruit, the fourth of a total of five articles on QS requirements for companies in the fruit and vegetable sector has been published. In the current issue, we provide an overview of the QS scheme in food retailing.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

The year 2018 is coming to an end and 2019 is already knocking on our doors! At this point we would like to thank you for the trusting and constructive cooperation in 2018!

Since 17 December 2018, the guidelines valid as of 2019 can be viewed and downloaded on the QS website . In addition, the checklists for audits , which will be carried out from 1st January 2019, will also be available there.

The additional control plan Aflatoxin B1 was revised with effect from 17 December 2018. The revised version includes new risk ratings for three countries of origin.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

The way the search results in the scheme participant search function of the QS database are presented, has been further optimised. From now on, the respective location’s eligibility of delivery, which appears in the search results, will be identified with the colours red and green.

At the end of 2018, the transitional period for the review of meat and meat products service providers will expire. Starting in 2019, companies that store QS meat and meat products on behalf of other companies must have a QS eligbility of delivery in the QS database.

From 21 to 23 November 2018 the ICOP (International Conference of Producer Organisations), one of the most important international conferences for the fruit and vegetable industry, will take place in Rotterdam. QS supports the international congress for producer organisations and will be...

As part of our media collaboration with the international magazine Eurofruit, the third of a total of five articles on the QS requirements for companies in the fruit and vegetable sector has been published. In the current issue, we give an overview of the benefits of QS certification for...

As every year, QS invites all scheme participants, auditors and other interested parties to take part in the commenting for the QS scheme manual. Between 15. and 22. November 2018, you have the opportunity of commenting the revised guidelines that become effective as of 1. January 2019.

The new issue of the QS-Report Meat and Meat Products has been published hot off the press and can now be read and downloaded in the media catalogue of the QS website.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

As part of our media cooperation with the international magazine Eurofruit , the second article in our five-part series has been published. In this issue we give an overview of the international cooperation at the level of production in the QS scheme and present the national and international...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

The QS Advisory Board Fruit, Vegetables, Potatoes visited Professor Ulrich Schurr at the Institute of Plant Sciences at the Research Centre Jülich and was given a comprehensive overview of the new technologies in plant research. In the current OS-Report, you can read about the challenges facing...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

With effect from 17 September 2018, the additional control plan Aflatoxin B1 has been revised. Based on existing weather data, on results of the new harvest as well as on gradings made in the past years at the beginning of the harvest, the revision has introduced new risk classifications for...

The new issue of the QS Monitoring Report Feed not only shows the current results on residues in feed but also the development of the results over the last 5 years. In the meantime, the QS scheme can refer to an impressive database of 3.5 million analysis results. With stricter guidance, limit...

As part of a series of five articles in the international magazine Eurofruit, we explain the requirements and advantages of the QS scheme for fruit and vegetables - from the producer via the wholesale to the food retail - stage by stage. In the recently published issue of September, we begin...

Safe feed is the basis for safe food. On this topic, Claudia Brill (coordination feed sector) and Katharina Clemens (management assistant) from QS have written an article for the international Feed Magazine, which has published in the current issue.

Fami-QS and QS have recently signed a mutual recognition agreement for the production and trade of additives and premixes, including particular feed material. With this, QS certified companies now have the possibility to deliver goods into the Fami-QS scheme based on their QS audit.

How many samples have been taken within the QS feed monitoring in China? Did the analysed maize samples from Thailand show any abnormalities regarding Aflatoxin B1? How many feed samples from Spain tested for Salmonella were positive? The interactive world map for QS feed monitoring provides...

QS and FAMI-QS have agreed upon a mutual recognition of audits. The bilateral agreement between the two scheme owners will apply as of 15-08-2018 and include the production and trade of additives premixtures including certain feed materials formerly legally categorized as feed additives. The...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

In the course of our harmonization meetings with international scheme owners in the feed sector, amendments have been made in the Guidelines Feed Sector and Feed Monitoring. These guidelines have been revised effective 1 st July 2018, and can now be viewed and downloaded from the document...

With effect from 25 June 2018, the additional control plan Aflatoxin B1 valid thus far is revised.

As of today, producers with GLOBALG.A.P. Option 2 certificate have the opportunity to participate in the QS scheme. The prerequisites for this and a step-by-step guide to scheme participation can be found in the information sheet Participate in the QS scheme with GLOBALG.A.P. Option 2...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

QS has published an information sheet explaining step by step the QS scheme participation for producers with a GLOBALG.A.P. Option 2 certificate. The information sheet can be viewed and downloaded on the QS website in German , English and Spanish .

Of the approximately 200,000 QS scheme participants, who are currently participating in the QS scheme either directly or through the recognition of another standard, more than 30,000 are based outside of Germany. In order to ensure a consistent cross-border quality assurance of fresh meat and...

A new issue of the QS-Report Fruit, Vegetables, Potatoes has been published and can now be read and downloaded in the media catalog of the QS website.

The Additional control plan Aflatoxin B1 has been revised with effect from 6 March 2018.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

The interactive world map on the QS website has been enhanced with the latest QS feed monitoring analysis results and now includes the data for the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017. Approximately 50,000 samples were collected and analyzed within the QS feed monitoring during...

Due to the implementation of the new QS guideline Preparation/Processing Fruit, Vegetables and Potatoes in 2017 the scope of the QS scheme has been expanded by processed fruit, vegetables and potatoes. Until now for companies that process both meat and fruit, vegetables or potatoes, the...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

The QS advisory board for cattle and pigs has specified the requirements for recording and reporting of diagnostic data in pig slaughter and made them more practical. Therefore, the guidelines Slaughtering/Deboning and Befunddaten in der Schweineschlachtung (only available in German) were...

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

The Style Guide for the use of the QS certification mark was extended by revised regulations for the labelling of composed products with the QS certification mark. The updated version can be viewed and downloaded on the QS website as of now.

Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes are checked by independent certification bodies.

As of 2018, leaves of radish and small radish have to be analyzed separately from the vegetable fruits. According to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture ( Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (BVL), this provides an update of EC Regulation RG (EC) 396/2005 (Annex...

As a part of the revision 2018, the QS guidelines were editorially and contentually revised as well as further adjusted to common practices and legal requirements. We have summarised the most important modifications from the revision 2017 below.