BfR
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Annual Report 2014
10
The BfR is committed to certain principles that ensure the high quality of its opinions. Ever since the Institute
was founded in 2002, various measures have been taken which have played a key role in consolidating
this science-based approach to risk assessment, thereby contributing to the good reputation of the work of
the BfR.
Principles and working procedures
Independence
The independence of experts is a fundamental precondi-
tion for guaranteeing independent risk assessment. For
this reason, the practice of separating scientific risk as-
sessment from subsequent risk management asserted
itself in Europe over ten years ago.
The overall concept of the BfR explicitly provides for the
exchange of views with all stakeholders. These include
NGOs, consumer associations, trade and industry, poli-
tics, science and the media. When scientific standpoints
are voiced and substantiated, the involvement of various
stakeholders is of particular importance, but the risk as-
sessments themselves are exclusively prepared by em-
ployees of the BfR. External experts merely advise 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 meas-
ures taken by 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, while 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 un-
derlying data, the methods used along with the assump-
tions, uncertainty and variability, to the result and conclu-
sions, the assessments have to be clear, understandable
and reproducible.
Assessment of risks
The assessment of a risk takes into account the prob-
ability of the occurrence of an event which will endanger
health and the expected extent of the health impairment.
Although a health risk can never be ruled out completely,
through a series of suitable measures known as risk man-
agement, an attempt is made to minimise the risk to the
greatest extent possible and to prevent a threat to health.
The job of the BfR is to provide the responsible people
with a solid scientific foundation for risk management.
Identifying a risk and evaluating it – the two together are
known as “risk assessment” – is the first step in the area
of consumer health protection. Risk management can use
this as a point of reference and initiate suitable measures.
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To ensure that independence is maintained, the BfR does
not seek or receive any funding from trade and industry;
it is financed through funds provided by the national
government, as well as from externally funded national
and international projects.
