Unit Steering and Overall Assessment - Biocides
The work of the unit encompasses the overall evaluation of all individual assessments prepared by the scientific units of Department 6 and the coordination of the tasks related to the health assessment of biocides and their active substances. In addition, the unit coordinates the cooperation between the other departments and with federal institutes, industry, national and international organisations and the competent ministries in matters related to biocides.
The health risk assessment is carried out in accordance with the Biocide Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 and the German Infection Protection Act. The national implementation of the Biocide Regulation and, consequently, also the responsibilities and tasks of the BfR are regulated in Article 12a-h of the German Chemicals Act. Legal procedures in the BfR’s area of responsibility are managed by the unit and includes the entire process organisation for health risk assessment as part of the official tasks according to the Chemicals Act in accordance with the Biocides Regulation and according to the Infection Protection Act.
The main tasks of the unit comprise:
- Administrative examination and electronic registration of the processes;
- Preliminary scientific examination;
- Coordination of scheduling and time management;
- Research on health risk assessment;
- Merging of the assessment reports from the units into a final overall assessment and coordination of management options;
- Organisation of coordination meetings on health risk assessment;
- Preparation of final notices and assessment reports.
As part of the overall assessment, the unit participates in national and international bodies for the risk assessment of biocides and their active substances, as well as the further development of testing and assessment strategies.
In addition, the unit is responsible for the content of the official factual databases for biocides as well as for the department’s administration and document management databases for biocide procedures.