The state of Bremen has two cities, and for a food importer that matters. Containers from India come in at Bremerhaven, about 60 kilometres down the Weser at the river mouth, while many of the buyers, warehouses and food companies are in the city of Bremen itself.
For the German and EU rules, read importing dehydrated onion and garlic from India into Germany. This page covers the Bremen side.
Bremerhaven and the border check
Bremerhaven is one of Europe's large container ports, and Asia to Europe services call there. Official food controls at the port are carried out by LMTVet, the state of Bremen's food control, animal welfare and veterinary service, which runs border control posts in Bremerhaven and Bremen.
According to Bremen's public service portal, consignments subject to checks are notified in advance, normally at least one working day before arrival, and presented with the common health entry document, bill of lading, any required certificate and, where needed, laboratory results. Customs release follows only after the food check is passed. Whether your product needs this formal border control depends on whether Indian dehydrated onion or garlic is on an EU increased-check list when you ship, so ask your broker to confirm before booking.
Bremen's food trade
Bremen has a long history in the coffee trade and a broad food industry. Bremerhaven's fishing port area is known for fish processing and frozen food. These are users of onion and garlic: powder and granules for coatings, batters, sauces and seasoning, and chopped or minced onion for frozen ready meals. Garlic powder in coatings needs a tight microbiology result, because the product may be only lightly cooked by the end user.
Ask for salmonella and total plate count on every lot, and consider steam-sterilised material for high-risk applications. See how salmonella appears in dehydrated onion and how it is controlled.
Storage on the North Sea coast
Bremen and Bremerhaven are damp, with frequent rain and mild winters. Powder that sits in an unheated shed through a wet autumn can cake. Keep stock off the floor, away from loading doors, and in sealed liners. Check shelf life of dehydrated onion and garlic when you plan how much to hold.
Getting goods from the port to the city
The usual move is by truck along the A27 or by rail from the Bremerhaven terminals to warehouses in Bremen. If your container is cleared in Bremerhaven, inland transport is a simple domestic move. Some Bremen buyers instead use Hamburg when a vessel or rate suits better, and the inspection then takes place under Hamburg's authority, not Bremen's.
Labels and selling on
Retail and food service packs sold in Germany need German labelling. If you are repacking for export to the Nordic countries or the Netherlands, check the language rules of each destination. See labelling rules for spice blends in the UK, EU and US.
How Creston helps
We audit Indian plants, have every lot tested at an NABL-accredited laboratory against EU limits, supervise loading, and check that the documents match what LMTVet and your broker will ask for, for one written fee agreed in advance. You buy directly from the plant. To start, book a free sourcing review.