BfR | Annual Report 2013
10
The BfR is committed to certain principles that ensure the high quality of its opinions. When the institute was
founded in 2002, the strategic focus was on the consolidation of the science-based approach to risk assess-
ment. Various measures have since been taken that have played a key role in consolidating this approach and
thereby underpinning the high quality of the work of the BfR.
Principles and Working Procedures
Independence
The independence of experts is a fundamental precondi-
tion for independent risk assessment. For this reason, the
separation of scientific risk assessment from subsequent
risk management has been standard practice in Europe
for more than ten years now.
The overall concept of the BfR explicitly provides for the
exchange of views with all stakeholders (NGOs, consum-
er associations, industry, politics, science, media). When
scientific standpoints are voiced and substantiated, the
involvement of various stakeholders is of key importance.
However, the risk assessments themselves are prepared
by employees of the BfR. External experts merely ad-
vise the BfR, but they do not make any official decisions.
The work results and recommendations of the BfR serve
as an important decision-making aid for the planned
measures of all interested groups. The statements is-
sued by the BfR are based on internationally recognised
principles and are also substantiated in a way that can
be understood by non-experts. Available knowledge is
adequately taken into consideration and presented in an
easy-to-understand manner, and any relevant scientific
opposing views are also outlined.
Transparency is necessary on all levels of risk assess-
ment. From the objective and area of application of the
opinion, through the source, type and evidence of the
underlying data, the methods used along with the as-
sumptions, uncertainty and variability, to the result and
conclusions, the assessments have to be clear, under-
standable and reproducible.
It is of decisive importance that, in order to ensure in-
dependence, no funding may be obtained from industry.
The opinions prepared by the BfR are based on internation-
ally recognised scientific principles.
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Transparency, scientific excellence and independence are the
most important principles employed by the BfR in order to
strenghten the trust of all involved parties in the process of
risk assessment.
