Greens Accuse Ministries of Lacking Control Over Food Standards

The Green Party has voiced strong criticism regarding the sustainable food procurement practices of German ministries, alleging a significant lack of oversight. According to a parliamentary inquiry response, more than half of the ministries possess "little to no overview" of their compliance with organic and animal welfare standards in their food purchases.

This lack of transparency is particularly concerning given the federal government's commitment to sustainable public procurement. An action plan implemented in July 2021 mandates that federal ministries and their agencies adhere to specific quotas for organic and animal welfare-friendly food. The federal government's annual food expenditure exceeds 66 million euros, making compliance a substantial undertaking.

Green Party spokesperson Olga Voglauer highlighted a "sad picture" emerging from the inquiries, noting that over half of the ministries "cannot or will not quantify" their organic food purchases for 2025. Furthermore, no ministry could provide figures for animal welfare-certified products. This falls short of the requirement for ministries to allocate 30% of their food budgets to organic products.

Specific examples underscore the issue. The Ministry of Defense, which procured 24.8 million euros worth of food last year, allocated only 910,000 euros (3.67%) to organic products. Voglauer criticized the ministry's emphasis on regionality, arguing that it obscures the failure to meet mandated organic targets and does not guarantee quality or ethical standards. Other ministries, including Justice, Science, and Education, also failed to provide adequate information on their compliance with organic food quotas.