Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (German)

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, or BfR) is an agency under public law with the task of strengthening consumer health protection, and heavily engaged in the area of possible risks of nanotechnology in consumer-relevant areas and in health. The Institute reports to the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection, but is independent when it comes to its scientific assessments and research. BfR has the statutory remit of identifying potential risks to consumers from foods, substances and products, of assessing them scientifically, and of involving all the stakeholders in an active communication and information process. In 2008, for example, more than 6 million euros were earmarked for research.

In 2005, the Institute established an internal expert group for nanotechnology. In 2006, the Institute was actively involved in investigating respiratory problems suffered by more than 100 consumers, caused by a sealing spray called Magic Nano, which did not actually contain any nanoparticles. Together with the Federal Office for Health and Safety and the Federal Environmental Agency, a research strategy to identify the potential risks of nanotechnology was published in 2007. Furthermore, BfR is active in the scientific bodies that deal with the regulation of nanotechnology at a national or European level.

BfR has also conducted and funded a series of dialogue and research activities on the risks of nanotechnology. In order to determine how nanotechnology is perceived by the German population, one BfR project conducted research into the public perceptions of nanotechnology by means of a representative population survey, coupled with a qualitative psychological study. Parallel to this, BfR conducted a consumer conference, an expert survey and a media analysis of the subject. This was followed by consumer- and product-orientated studies on the risk perception and the framing of nanotechnology in spontaneous online discussions (in online forums and weblogs), as opposed to organized online dialogues.

All these activities share the common goal of providing orientation and, by extension, maintaining the ability of society to respond in an informed manner to a new, complex technology and guaranteeing the safe, responsible handling of nanotechnology and its products. BfR research activities are also designed to identify risks or risk areas that are present in the public perception in a manifest, latent or potential manner, and to describe factors that impact risk communication in this new area. The Institute's research and dialogue activities play an important role in Germany's overall strategy for dealing with the health, environmental, and safety issues and the ethical, legal, and societal implications of nanotechnology.