Calibration Requirements for Filling — What You Need to Know as a Food Producer

Anyone who commercially fills and sells food products in Germany is subject to the Prepackaged Goods Ordinance (FPackV). This applies to large dairies as well as small direct-to-consumer sellers, farm cheese dairies, or artisanal producers—regardless of the size of the business or the annual volume. When purchasing a filling machine, hardly anyone asks the crucial question: How do I comply with the calibration requirement—and what does that have to do with my machine? The answer surprises many.

The FPackV stipulates that the net quantity stated on a prepack must actually be adhered to. The filling machine itself does not need to be calibrated—this is explicitly stipulated in the regulation. What must be calibrated is the scale used for verification.
Specifically, there are two permissible methods:

• First, a downstream calibrated checkweigher that checks all prepackages for underweight and rejects them if there is a deviation. This is the most direct method—every package is checked.
• Second, a statistical sampling inspection in accordance with the Prepackaged Goods Regulation: Regular samples from ongoing production are checked on a calibrated checkweigher and documented in writing. This approach is often more practical for smaller businesses—but requires consistent record-keeping. Anyone who cannot present documentation during an inspection by the authorities risks fines.

In both cases, the checkweigher must be calibrated and comply with the legally required calibration value for the respective fill quantity.

The FPackV specifies concrete requirements for the calibration value of checkweighers. For typical food containers, this means: For fill quantities between 25 and 150 g, the calibration value must not exceed 0.5 g. For fill quantities between 150 and 350 g, the maximum is 1.0 g. For fill quantities between 350 and 1,000 g, the maximum is 2.0 g. This means that anyone filling 150-gram yogurt jars needs a scale with a maximum calibration value of 0.5 g—a standard kitchen scale generally does not meet this requirement. Anyone working with different container sizes should check before purchasing whether a scale covers all required fill quantities with the respective prescribed calibration value.

Many affordable filling machines in the €500–800 price range have a built-in scale. This seems practical and comprehensive. The key point: The built-in scales in these Chinese-manufactured OEM machines are not calibrated as standard in this price range and are therefore not compliant with calibration regulations as defined by the FPackV. Calibratable filling systems with integrated weighing technology do exist—but they start at a significantly higher price point and are designed for different operational scales. Anyone who buys an inexpensive weigh-filler and believes they have thereby fulfilled the calibration requirement is legally mistaken. An additional external, calibrated scale is required in every case—the supposed simplicity of the built-in scale does not resolve the legal issue. Furthermore, non-calibrated scales can lose accuracy over time without the user noticing. A calibrated checkweigher is regularly inspected and certified by an authorized calibration authority—this is the only reliable form of verification.

Calibrated scales must be recalibrated regularly in Germany. The calibration interval and the responsible authority are governed by the Measurement and Calibration Act (MessEG) and vary depending on the type of scale. The calibration authorities of the federal states are responsible. This is not just a bureaucratic detail—it is an ongoing cost factor that should be factored into the purchase of a filling system. If you are unsure which requirements apply to your business and container sizes, you can contact the relevant calibration office directly.

The calibration issue has a direct impact on the total cost of a filling system. Anyone who buys an inexpensive weigh-fill machine with a built-in, uncalibrated scale will also need an external, calibrated checkweigher—which puts the supposed savings into perspective. The Fillogy® deliberately does not have a built-in scale. The reason is precisely this: A built-in, uncalibrated scale would not meet legal requirements. Instead, the Fillogy® recommends using a separate, calibrated checkweigher—one that can be used, replaced, and recalibrated independently of the machine. We explain why we deliberately chose this approach in this article. This is not a design flaw. It is the legally sounder and practically more flexible solution.

Under the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40), which takes effect on August 12, 2026, food producers will face additional documentation requirements—including declarations of conformity for packaging materials and new limit values for certain substances in food-contact packaging. This primarily affects the packaging itself, not the filling machine—but it underscores the broader trend: Regulatory requirements for commercial food producers are increasing. Those who get their documentation in order now will be better prepared for future tightening of regulations.

Anyone who commercially fills and sells food by weight is required to have a calibrated checkweigher. The filling machine itself does not need to be calibrated. Inexpensive OEM weigh-fillers in the €500–800 range do not come with calibrated scales as standard—an external calibrated checkweigher is required in addition. The scale’s calibration value must match the filled volume—the FPackV specifies specific limit values. Recalibration by an authorized calibration authority is mandatory.

For business-specific questions regarding calibration requirements, we recommend contacting the relevant calibration office in your state. This article is intended as general guidance and is not a substitute for individual legal advice.