Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection

Show activities with biological agents

You must report any first-time activities involving biological agents.

Detailed description

As an employer, you are obliged to report the following activities:

  • in laboratories, in animal husbandry and in biotechnology, the first admission
    • a targeted activity with biological agents of risk group 2
    • an activity involving biological agents of risk group 3, provided that the activities are not subject to a permit requirement
  • any change to the permitted or notified activities if this is significant for safety and health protection, for example activities aimed at increasing the virulence of the biological agent or the commencement of activities with other biological agents of risk group 3 or 4
  • the admission of an infected patient to a patient ward of protection level 4,
  • the cessation of an activity that requires a permit under Section 15 of the Biological Agents Ordinance (BioStoffV).
 

Information

Prerequisites

If necessary, you must apply for a permit in accordance with Section 44 of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG) or Section 2 of the Animal Diseases Ordinance (TierSEV) or justify the exemption from a permit in accordance with Section 45 IfSG or Section 3 TierSEV.

Documents required

  • Transfer of tasks according to § 13 (2) ArbSchG
  • Site plan, floor plan of the rooms
  • List of biological agents according to § 7 (2) BioStoffV
  • Job description
  • Deviations from protective measures
  • If necessary, you can find out about further required documents from the responsible authority.

Please note

If you do not report the incident, do not report it correctly, do not report it completely or do not report it on time, this constitutes an administrative offence. If you do so intentionally and endanger the life or health of your employees, you are committing a criminal offence.



You can also fulfil the notification obligation by sending the competent authority within the deadline a copy of a notification, authorisation or permission under another legal provision if it contains equivalent information.

Deadlines

Submit the report no later than 30 days


  • before commencing activities that require notification,

  • before changing the permitted or notified activities or

  • before starting any activity that requires a permit.


Immediately report the admission of an infected patient to a patient ward at protection level 4.

Procedure

  • You fill out the notification form completely and send it with the required documents to the responsible authority.
  • The responsible authority will examine your report and the documents. If necessary, it will request further documents or information from you.
  • The responsible authority checks the requirements.
  • If you do not meet the requirements, you will be asked to correct the deficiencies.
  • You will not receive an ad confirmation.

Processing time

You will not receive a notice or confirmation of notification from the responsible authority. If you have submitted the notification on time, you have fulfilled your notification obligation.

Fees

No.

Legal remedies

This is a complaint filed by you. No legal remedy is provided.

Legal basis

Section 16 Biological Substances Ordinance (BioStoffV)

Forms and downloads

Links on hamburg.de

Links on the Internet

Address and contact information

Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection

State Occupational Safety Inspectorate

By appointment

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Keywords: Show dangerous biological agents Show risk of biological agents Report work with biological agents

Last updated: 14.02.2026