How Risk Assessments Are Conducted in Germany; Including a Case Study

In general, the different competent authorities in Germany, which are responsible for the use of chemicals, perform a traditional hazard identification and risk assessment. Based on the identification of a NOAEL, health-based tolerable exposure limits are proposed. Non-threshold compounds such as genotoxic carcinogens are either banned for consumer use or, if not avoidable, such as at workplaces, risk-based exposure limits are determined. As a member state of the European Union, since Germany has the intention to harmonize risk assessment, closely cooperates with the major European competent authorities. With respect to consumer products, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is the primary agency; with respect to food contaminants, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the lead group; and in the case of cosmetics, the Scientific Committee of Consumer Safety (SCCS) is responsible for risk assessments. For each authority, the specific guidance for each institution is applied.