Das Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung

News

Expertise needed: EFSA Advisory Panels recruit new members

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a call for expressions of interest for the renewal of its Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee. Scientists who would like to be considered for membership in one of EFSA's ten Scientific Panels or Scientific Committee have until 3 April 2023 to apply.

Bild zur Kooperation des BfR mit dem Versuchszentrum Laimburg

What happens when plant protection products are applied nearby? BfR and South Tyrolean Laimburg Research Centre cooperate in research

The BfR and the Laimburg Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry based in South Tyrol, Italy, have signed a cooperation agreement. The aim of the cooperation, which is initially intended to run for four years, is to work together in the fields of applied research and development, supervision of student research projects and theses (bachelor's/master's theses and doctoral dissertations), and events such as training courses and workshops.

Detecting genetic modifications

The "International Conference on GMO Analysis and New Genomic Techniques" will take place both on site in Berlin and virtually from 14 to 16 March 2023. The three-day event will bring together scientists from five continents to exchange research projects and results on the detection and identification of genetic modifications.

BfR-Corona-Monitor - as to 07 - 08 March 2023

The people in Germany are taking individual measures more frequently again to protect themselves and others from the novel coronavirus: 48 percent of respondents to the latest BfR-Corona-Monitor reported getting tested for infection - an increase of 8 percent compared to last month. The proportion of people who wash their hands more thoroughly (67 vs. 70 percent) or use the Corona-Warn-App (34 vs. 37 percent) to protect themselves also increased during this period.

Does the consumption of liquorice by pregnant women impair the mental and physical development of children?

In a Finnish observational study, children of mothers who had consumed more than 250 g of liquorice (approx. 500 mg glycyrrhizic acid) per week during pregnancy were compared with children of mothers who had consumed no or only about 125 g of liquorice per week.

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.