Das Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung

News

Tattoo inks: How much colour gets into the body?

In a new clinical study, scientists from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) have traced the path and metabolism of the liquid components of tattooing agents in the body for the first time.

Dr Tewes Tralau appointed Vice-President of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment

The biologist has been working at the BfR since 2010. He will take office on 1st of March 2025.

Focus on family-conscious personnel policy

The BfR receives the certificate “audit berufundfamilie” for the sixth time.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD): questions and answers

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease in cloven-hoofed animals. The FMD virus is not hazardous to humans. On 10 January 2025, FMD was detected on a water buffalo farm in the district of Märkisch-Oderland in Brandenburg.

New appointment of BfR commissions

Scientists wanted for voluntary work for the sixth term from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2029.

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.

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.

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).

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.