Department Pesticides Safety

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Department Pesticides Safety

The remit of the department comprises the health risk assessment of plant protection products and biocides, which are summarised under the collective term "pesticides" following the structural reorganisation of the BfR, based on the definition in Directive (EC) No. 2009/128/EC establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides.

The central tasks of the department include the determination of the inherent toxic properties and dose-effect relationships of active substances and pesticides, the classification and labelling of active substances in pesticides, the derivation of toxicological limit values, the determination of the exposure of humans, production animals and pets and the derivation of risk mitigation measures and maximum residue concentrations with the aim of avoiding harmful impacts on the health of humans and animals. In addition, the department reviews analytical monitoring methods and works on the development and improvement of regulatory testing and assessment strategies and technical guidelines.

Assessment takes the form of scientific opinions and contributions to or commentaries on assessment reports. The health risk assessments of pesticides and their preparations compiled by the department form the basis for risk management regulations and measures in national, European and worldwide regulatory approval, licensing and assessment procedures for pesticides in line with the laws on pesticides and chemicals in transposition of:

Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market;
Regulation (EC) No. 528/2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products;
Regulation (EC) 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides;
Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.

The research activities of the department are primarily geared towards support for regulatory procedures, at the current time above all in the fields of "combination effects" and "dermal absorption".

Furthermore, the department also provides specialist advice to the German government on national and European legislation on active substances in pesticides as well as on pesticide and biocide applications.

Department 6 comprises the following six units: