The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has updated the Reporting Guide for Unsafe Food Products. With more extensive explanations and regulatory assistance, entrepreneurs can check on the NVWA site when they need to report an unsafe food product to the NVWA.
Last year, the NVWA published a new text as a reporting guide. This text raised questions about the exact application of the reporting obligation. Therefore, the NVWA has adjusted the reporting guide again. View the reporting guide for unsafe food products here.
Report within 4 hours
As soon as an unsafe food product has left the direct control of the company, it must be reported within 4 hours. This also applies to raw materials that prove to be unsafe upon receipt. Even if there is a strong suspicion that a food product is unsafe, it must be reported. Companies must be able to demonstrate at any time from whom they have received products and to whom products have been delivered. This allows the NVWA to effectively supervise and ensure food safety.
Not all information available
It may happen that companies do not yet have all the necessary information for the reporting form within 4 hours. This is not necessary. The information in a report does not have to be completely available within 4 hours. The instructions for filling out the reporting form indicate which information must be provided within 4 hours and which information can be supplemented later.
Specific situations
The decision trees indicating how to act in specific situations such as with residues of pesticides and permitted veterinary medicines have not changed.
NVWA webinar on the reporting guide
On Thursday afternoon, November 13, 2025, the NVWA will organize a webinar on the reporting guide for unsafe food products. More information on how interested parties can register will follow soon.
More information
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