The German Environment Agency is tasked with protecting people from harmful environmental impacts. A key instrument for achieving this is the assignment of risk mitigation measures (RMMs) for biocidal products. Biocides are substances and mixtures used to control harmful organisms and are part of everyday life for consumers. These include, for example, antibacterial disinfectants, pest control agents, and wood preservatives, whose use may pose potential risks to human and animal health as well as to the environment. To protect consumers, the environment, and animals from potential unintended effects, RMMs are assigned to these products across the EU. Since many biocidal products are used not only by professionals but also by laypersons in private households, there is a need for clear and low-threshold protective measures.
The aim of the study is to evaluate the extent to which existing RMMs are implemented and contribute to environmental protection, and how they can be improved in order to develop a recipient-oriented risk management system. To this end, RMMs will be assessed from the perspective of consumers, and current allocation practices will be evaluated. In addition, regulatory decision-making criteria for the assignment of RMMs and further preventive measures will be developed.
The study is structured into five work packages:
- Work Package 1: Description and analysis of the status quo
- Work Package 2: Science-based evaluation of the current allocation practice of risk mitigation measures, based on empirical research including analysis of a real purchase situation, an online experiment, structured interviews, and a laboratory experiment
- Work Package 3: Regulatory implementation: recipient-oriented risk management system for the authorization of biocidal products
- Work Package 4: Events
- Work Package 5: Reporting
The ConPolicy Institute leads the project and is primarily responsible for implementing the work packages. The market research institute INNOFACT AG supports the project in conducting the study and recruiting participants. For subject-matter expertise, ConPolicy is also collaborating with Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, an expert in health and risk communication, and Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. Klaus Kümmerer, an expert in sustainable chemistry.
