Range of services

Up-to-date information is provided to member companies via circulars and via intranet (members-only access). Information and experience exchange through BDSI conventions and working groups. Seminars and training courses for member companies.

Food and Labelling Law, Quality Management. The BDSI is the contact for all confectionery-specific issues in the areas of food and labelling law, quality, health, and consumer protection. The BDSI represents the confectionery industry's interests in matters concerning national and EU legislation.

Nutrition Policy. The BDSI fights for fair legal framework for the manufacturing and marketing of confectionery and combats statutory restrictions and product discrimination.

Trade. The BDSI reviews delivery contracts with trading companies on the lookout for unreasonable contractual arrangements. It also works together with market research institutions.

Foreign Trade. The BDSI supports its members in matters concerning exports, customs and excise as well as export refunds, cross-border-processing legislation, issues concerning foreign export and labelling regulations.

Raw Materials and Agricultural Policy. The BDSI represents the confectionery industry's interests vis-à-vis the EU Commission and the German government in matters concerning agricultural market regimes and international treaties on raw materials. The main focus is on securing the industry's long-term raw material supplies, on competition with biofuels, the assumption of social responsibility, and fending off restrictions and trade barriers.

Environment and Packaging. The BDSI supports its members regarding sector-specific issues concerning return systems for sales and transport packaging. It also cooperates in matters concerning new legislation on waste, sewage and emissions regulations and in the field of plant approvals.

Social Policy / Labour Law. The BDSI pursues its independent industrial relations policy. The BDSI concludes collective pay agreements for its pay-scale member companies and their employees. On request, non-pay-scale members are also advised on matters concerning and labour law.

Public Relations. The BDSI maintains intensive contacts with journalists, opinion makers, and consumer organisations on behalf of its member companies. In addition, the BDSI coordinates PR concepts and their implementation both regarding overarching topics such as nutrition and health as well as individual product groups such as especially ice cream (www.markeneis.de) and chocolate (www.infozentrum-schoko.de).

Official Statistics. The BDSI draws up summaries and evaluations of sector-specific survey results from the Federal Statistical Office Germany (StBa). It cooperates with the creation of sector-related statistics at EU and international level.