Das Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung

News

Cyprus and Germany: Working together for safe food

Germany and Cyprus want to deepen their cooperation in consumer health protection. This is the aim of a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and its Cypriot sister authority, the State General Laboratory (SGL).

Pflanzenschutzmittel werden auf ein Feld gesprüht

Study on the transparent approval of plant protection products: Manufacturers should submit all available studies on an active substance

The respective procedures within the European Union (EU) are among the strictest in the world. A Swedish study published in the scientific journal "Environmental Health" has now investigated the question of whether studies that were available to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were also made known to the corresponding EU authorities.

Residues of plant production products in strawberries - no health effects expected

According to tests by a non-governmental organisation, residues of plant protection products were detected in commercially available strawberries. Within this context, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) points out that the identification of residues in foods does not necessarily pose a health risk for consumers.

World Food Safety Day: 600 million reasons for good kitchen hygiene

The BfR is also participating in the World Food Safety Day again this year and providing information on its social media channels under the themed week “Food Safety at Home” about consumer-related topics such as kitchen hygiene, cross-contamination or what to look out for when eating certain raw foods.

"Next generation risk assessment": Berlin conference discusses new testing methods for chemicals

Around 350 scientists will meet in Berlin from 29 May to 1 June 2023 to discuss new methods for hazard and risk assessment of chemicals.

Product Notifications and Poisonings

The Institute

The Institute was set up in November 2002 to strengthen consumer health protection. It is the scientific agency of the Federal Republic of Germany which is responsible for preparing expert reports and opinions on food and feed safety as well as on the safety of substances and products.

BfR endeavours to constantly undertake topical assessments of the risks associated with foods - be it from heavy metals, pesticide residues, toxic ingredients or the like (substance risks), be it from bacteria, viruses or fungi (microbial risks) or be it risks from novel technologies in food production (novel foods).

For health assessment the decisive factor is whether and, if so, on what scale consumers come into contact with the substances contained in the products and what health risks these might entail. This requires knowledge about the numerous substances, materials and their processing into various products.

Chemicals are encountered in almost all areas of daily life. That's why stiff requirements must be imposed to ensure the safe handling of chemicals. The proper handling of chemicals may not constitute a risk to the health of man or to the environment.