European Hot Sauce Awards – Terms and Conditions

1. Competition Eligibility

1.1 Participant Requirements

• The competition is open to hot sauce producers from Europe and internationally
• Only commercially available hot sauces are eligible to enter
• Sauces must comply with all health, safety, and hygiene regulations
• All entries must have a valid use-by date extending beyond May 2026

1.2 Entry Restrictions

• Producers may enter multiple sauces
• Each sauce entered in multiple categories requires a separate entry
• Sauces must be created within the past 12 months

2. Entry Process

2.1 Submission Requirements

• Complete online payment for entries
• Submit detailed ingredients list
• Provide accurate allergen information
• Ship sauce samples according to provided guidelines
• Ensure all entries reach the competition by Friday, 9th January 2026

2.2 Fees and Payments

• Entry fees are non-refundable
• Discounts apply for multiple sauce entries
• Payment confirms acceptance of these terms and conditions

3. Judging and Awards

3.1 Judging Process

• Judging will be conducted by professional & experienced tasters
• Sauces will be evaluated on:
  • Flavor complexity
  • Heat balance
  • Ingredient quality
  • Originality
  • Overall sensory experience

3.2 Award Decisions

• Judges’ decisions are final
• Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards will be presented in each category
• Top 50 highest-scoring sauces will be added to global rankings

4. Intellectual Property and Usage Rights

4.1 Sauce Submissions

• By entering, participants grant the competition organizers:
  • Right to feature sauce names in press releases
  • Permission to use submitted information for promotional purposes
  • Ability to list winners on official websites

4.2 Ownership

• Submitted sauce samples become the property of the competition
• Samples will not be returned unless prior arrangements are made

5. Liability and Limitations

5.1 Disclaimer

• Competition organizers are not responsible for:
  • Lost or damaged entries during shipping
  • Technical issues with online submission
  • Errors in entry information provided by participants

5.2 Privacy

• Personal and business information will be handled confidentially
• Contact information may be used for competition-related communications

6. Miscellaneous

6.1 Communication

• All official communication will be via the provided email: chilipunkberlin@gmail.com
• Participants are responsible for maintaining updated contact information

6.2 Modifications

• Competition organizers reserve the right to modify competition rules
• Any changes will be communicated to registered participants

7. Acceptance of Terms

By submitting an entry to the European Hot Sauce Awards, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms and conditions.

Last Updated: [25th March 2025]