Over the past 20 years, the proportion of online shoppers in the Austrian population has risen to over 60 per cent, and the volume of online spending on online retail and mail order has risen to over 10 billion euros per year. Online shopping, particularly for everyday products on shopping platforms from the USA and China, is booming in Europe. In order to counter the danger of potentially harmful products in e-commerce, official controls in this area have been strengthened by the BAVG on a risk basis. The BAVG specifically monitors trends in the purchasing behaviour of Austrian consumers by product group, country of origin and online platform. Samples are also taken and analysed anonymously on the basis of EU-wide focus campaigns, national control campaigns and risk-based monitoring, taking into account the manufacturer, platform and complaint rate as well as specific consumer complaints.
BAVG cooperation in monitoring international online platforms
In order to ensure a high level of consumer protection, for example for children's toys, food supplements and cosmetics that are offered for sale on the internet by foreign online shops in Austria, the BAVG cooperates with the AGES Internet Unit. Among other things, AGES provides support with online research, technical framework conditions and sampling. There is also cooperation with the Austrian Customs Office in order to improve mutual support in operational enforcement and the exchange of expertise in the area of food safety and protection against animal diseases. For example, a number of priority actions in the area of internet controls have already been jointly planned and implemented. The complaint rate for the BAVG inspections carried out in 2024 was very high at 62 per cent. BAVG carried out a total of 150 inspections in 2024. Of 77 food supplements inspected, 40 had to be rejected. Of 16 cosmetic products inspected, 13 had to be rejected. In the case of children's toys, 29 of 37 samples had to be rejected. Further controls were carried out on food and food contact materials.
Report 2025 on developments in food safety, veterinary matters and animal welfare - KVG