Facts & Figures
Here we provide a brief overview of our most important key figures. Our annual reports and our "Facts & Figures" publications provide a more detailed overview, including additional key figures, such as the institute's budget situation, staffing levels, and national and international relations.
Foundation and location
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment was founded in 1 November 2002 as a body under public law within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMELshort forGerman Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture). The institute is spread over four locations in Berlin.
- Main location: Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10 (Berlin-Jungfernheide)
- President’s office: Alt-Marienfelde 17-21
- Additional Institute buildings: Diedersdorfer Weg 1, Nahmitzer Damm 12
Personnel and training
Employees: 1.237 (2024); including scientists: 573, PhD candidates: 45, apprentices/trainees: 18
Budget
For its statutory tasks, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment had a budget of € 148 million in 2024.
Third-party funding € 6 million.
Opinions and publications
In 2024, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment carried out 227 expert opinions for supervisory federal ministries, 2.560 assessments in legally prescribed procedures, 1.411 other opinions outside of legally prescribed procedures to authorities, associations, citizens, NGOs and international groups and 1.018.597 product reports.
Furthermore: Presentations, journal publications, poster contributions, contributions to conference proceedings, dissertations/postdoctoral qualifications/ master theses/diploma theses/ bachelor theses, contributions to compilations, contributions to collected editions, reports EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority.
Research: Third-party funded projects
In 2023, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment was involved in 52 EU projects and 36 projects of the German Research Society (DFG) and other federal agencies. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment is also the German focal point for EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority and participates in 20 international cooperation projects in the areas of training and capacity building.
Our tasks and work areas
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment was founded to strengthen consumer health protection in Germany and on the international level.
The main areas of work laid down in the "Act restructuring consumer health protection and food safety" of 14 August 2002 encompass the
Food and feed safety: Be it ingredients or additives, residues, contaminants or germs and parasites – on the basis of international recognised criteria, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment assesses food and feed with regard to toxicological, microbiological and nutritional aspects. Go to overview
Product safety: The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment investigates ingredients and their release from products such as cosmetics, toys, clothing or food packaging and containers, and assesses whether the contained substances could be a hazard to human health. Go to overview
Chemical safety: The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment also assesses health risks of chemicals, plant protection products, biocide products and hazardous materials to quickly identify undesirable effects. Go to overview
Risk communication: The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment examines the risk perception and risk behaviour of the population. To inform the public about health risks, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment talks to various stakeholders in society. Go to overview
Bf3R - Alternatives to animal experiments: The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment performs the tasks of the “German Centre for the Protection of
Laboratory Animals (Bf3R)” and coordinates all activities countrywide with the goal of restricting animal experiments and ensuring the best possible care for laboratory animals. Go to Bf3R-Website
Networks
In 2024, BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment scientists serve on 330 national and 208 European and 113 international bodies.
Partnerships exist in the form of institutional cooperations or joint research projects. Scientists at the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment actively contribute to the work in a variety of committees. The institutional exchange between experts is also becoming more important.
BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment bodies
The following are attached to BfR:
The legislator has assigned the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment a number of special national tasks.
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (BfR3)
- National Reference Laboratories (NRL)
- Federal Bureau for Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)
- EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority Focal Point
- BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Committees