DELast reviewed 2026-07-22

Germany - Import & Export Regulatory Guide

Germany applies the EU Union Customs Code (UCC) through the Zoll (federal customs administration) and the ATLAS electronic filing system. National export controls sit with BAFA under the Foreign Trade & Payments Act (AWG/AWV). CBAM, EUDR and the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG) add layered due-diligence duties.

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Regulatory authorities

Generalzolldirektion (Zoll) ↗
Customs entry, TARIC classification, excise, ATLAS filings.
BAFA ↗
Dual-use export licences, sanctions enforcement, embargo checks.
Bundesnetzagentur ↗
Radio/telecom equipment conformity (RED).
BLE / BVL
Agri, food, veterinary import authorisation.

Licensing regimes

Licence	Scope	Issuer
Dual-use export licence	EU Reg 2021/821 Annex I items; BAFA ELAN-K2 portal.	BAFA
AWG military list licence	Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz (KWKG) war-weapons list.	BAFA/BMWK
EORI registration	Mandatory for any customs declarant.	Zoll
CBAM declarant authorisation	From Jan 2026 for iron/steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen, electricity.	DEHSt

Prohibited goods

· Goods from EU-comprehensive sanctioned jurisdictions (Russia Crimea/DNR/LNR/ZP/KH, Belarus specified, DPRK, Syria, Iran specified).
· Counterfeit and pirated goods (EU Reg 608/2013).
· Cat & dog fur, seal products (EU Reg 1523/2007, 1007/2009).
· Torture goods (EU Reg 2019/125).

Restricted goods

· Dual-use items (Reg 2021/821) and national D-list additions.
· Firearms and parts (EU Firearms Directive + national WaffG).
· CITES species and derivatives.
· Deforestation-linked commodities (EUDR Reg 2023/1115 - cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm, rubber, soy, wood).

Labelling requirements

· CE marking for regulated products (machinery, toys, PPE, medical, RED, EMC, LVD).
· German-language user information (Product Safety Act ProdSG §6).
· Food Information Regulation (EU 1169/2011) - allergens, origin, nutrition table in German.
· VerpackG packaging registration (LUCID) before first placement on market.

Sanctions overlay

· EU sanctions transposed via AWV; Russia packages 1-14+ (goods, services, financial).
· OFSI / OFAC coordinated designations screened at BAFA financial sanctions monitoring.
· Iran, DPRK, Syria, Belarus, Myanmar, Venezuela restrictive measures.

Dispute resolution

Customs objections (Einspruch) to Zoll within one month; onward appeal to Finanzgericht. Arbitration under DIS Rules (Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit) or ICC Paris. NY Convention party since 1961.

Key official sources

Frequently asked questions (2)

Do I need CBAM authorisation to import steel to Germany?

From Jan 1, 2026 only authorised CBAM declarants may import CBAM goods. Register via DEHSt at least 90 days before first import. Transitional period (Oct 2023-Dec 2025) only requires quarterly emissions reports.

How does LkSG affect German importers?

The Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) applies to firms with 1,000+ employees (2024 threshold). It requires human-rights and environmental risk analysis across tier-1 suppliers, with a substantiated-risk trigger reaching further tiers. BAFA administers reporting and fines up to 2% of global turnover.