Unit Exposure Assessment of Hazardous Products

Substances in products on their own or in combination as a mixture may cause health disorders or poisonings. 

In order to prevent users from health risks the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment 'Exposure Assessment of Hazardous Products' unit is tasked with receiving and processing of notifications on

• Products classified as hazardous
• All detergents and cleaning products subject to European or national legal notification obligations

For the same reason physicians are obliged to report poisonings, or cases where a poisoning is suspected, to the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.

Based on the gathered data, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment provides information to the public on poisoning risks as well as product information for the poisons centres of Germany's federal states for formulating a medical response in case of a health emergency.

BfR Committee for the Assessment of Intoxications

The 'Exposure Assessment of Hazardous Products' unit also manages the BfR Committee for the Assessment of Intoxications. Through this committee the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment maintains close dialogue with experts from several specialities relevant for clinical toxicology.

BfR Committee for the Assessment of Intoxications

• Receipt and validation of product information on hazardous chemical products and detergent and cleaning agents and forwarding to the German poisons centres
• Maintenance and further development of the validation procedure for product notifications in the harmonised European PCN format in cooperation with the European Chemicals Agency ECHAshort forEuropean Chemicals Agency
• Responding to company enquiries regarding the notification of hazardous products
• Processing and evaluation of medical notifications on poisonings
• Reporting on poisoning events on behalf of the risk assessment processes of authorities
• Communication with the public about poisoning risks
• Management of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Committee for the Assessment of Intoxications
• Collaboration with national and international authorities, scientific societies and poisons centres with reference to the improvement of poison prevention and treatment