International Affairs

The International Affairs body reports directly to the Executive Board and advises and supports the President and the Vice-President on matters regarding the international cooperation. 

The cooperation with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority), institutions of the EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority network and with further partner institutions is particularly important. EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority's national contact point for Germany (EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority Focal Point), is located at BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in the International Affairs Division.

More information: EFSA Focal Point

The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has been appointed Chair and Scientific Secretariat for the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026. The International Liaison Group on Methods for Risk Assessment of Chemicals in Food and Feed (ILMERAC) is a network of about 30 governmental and intergovernmental organisations active in the field of food and feed safety worldwide. The aim of ILMERAC is to support the development of new methods for the risk assessment of chemicals in food and feed and at the same time to improve the coherence and global harmonisation of the methods used for risk assessment. The Scientific Secretariat in the International Affairs Unit is responsible for coordinating the network, its working groups and their scientific outputs, and for ILMERAC's communication and outreach activities.

More information: International Liaison Group on Methods for Risk Assessment of Chemicals in Food and Feed (ILMERAC)

Additionally, the body leads its own projects in the area of development cooperation and capacity development, is actively represented on several international committees and supports specialist German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment departments in the roll-out of international cooperation projects.

More information: Cooperation

The body also manages its own projects in the field of development cooperation and capacity development. Currently, BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment is implementing the project "Strengthening Food Safety and Consumer Protection in Tunisia" together with the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVLshort forGerman Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety).

More information: Germany and Tunisia - working together to improve food safety

The body also organises guest scientist stays at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and coordinates delegation visits and trips.