• keyvisual_2 Independent Risk Assessment BfR assesses risks from many areas of daily life. This includes the large spectrum of chemicals as well as foods of plant or animal origin, cosmetics and toys.
  • Reagenzgläser Identify Risks - Protect Health These are the tasks which are incumbent on the German Federal Institute for risk assessment (BfR) when it comes to progressive consumer protection. They encompass the independent assessment of existing and the identification of new health risks.
  • Institutsgebäude Marienfelde (jpg) Scientific excellence as the basis for long lasting confidence BfR gathers the latest scientific findings through an ongoing international exchange with experts from other scientific institutions but also from its own research.

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Das Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung

News

Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel

Interview with risk researcher Hensel: “People are afraid that they are being slowly poisoned”

In an interview with the Tagesspiegel, BfR President Professor Dr Dr Andreas Hensel discusses the discrepancy between how health risks are perceived and how they are scientifically assessed.

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BfR begrüßt neuen ILRI-Direktor

Global Food Safety - BfR welcomes new ILRI Director

A delegation led by the new ILRI Director General, Professor Dr Appolinaire Djikeng, met with the BfR President Professor Dr Dr Andreas Hensel in Berlin for their inaugural visit to discuss possibilities for future cooperation.

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Mehrere Chilischoten

Trial by fire: Extremely spicy food can be particularly harmful to children’s health

For many people, spicy food is a culinary delight. But for some, it is also an invitation to test one’s limits. Chilli plays a big part in this. 

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Verschiedene Knopfzellen

Dangerous chemical burns in the throat: questions and answers about button cells

Button cells are small, flat batteries that are found in many devices: from wristwatches to remote controls and children’s toys. However, button cells can be dangerous for smaller children.  In the past ten years, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has been notified  by hospitals and poison information centresof several hundred cases of swallowed button cells.

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The Institute

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.

Food Safety

Food Safety

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).

Product safety

Product safety

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

Chemicals

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.

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