Activities with pathogens, notification before admission

Prerequisites

You are only allowed to take up work with pathogens if there is no risk of endangering the health of the population.

Documents required

If you have been given permission to work with pathogens by another authority, you must submit a certified copy of this permission with the notification of the activity.

The advertisement must contain:

• Information on the type and scope of the intended activities,
• Information on the disposal measures,
• Information on the nature of the rooms and facilities,
• for activities requiring a permit: a certified copy of the permit (if the permit was not issued by the competent authority),

In the case of activities that do not require a permit: information on the freedom of permit

Please note

If you want to start an activity with pathogens, you must notify the activity commencement before starting the activity. Even if you are exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit, you must report the commencement of the activity.

The activity may only be started if the notification is complete and the activity is not prohibited after checking the documents and the rooms.
You need a permit from the competent authority if you want to move, export, store, give away or work with pathogens to Germany. Pathogens are considered to be reproducible, communicable viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and the like that can cause infection or communicable diseases in humans.

Basically every person who works with pathogens needs a permit. Exempt from the permit requirement are possibly

• Doctors
• Dentists
• Veterinarians

who carry out microbiological examinations for diagnosis on their own patients

Any significant change must be reported to the responsible body immediately. The termination or resumption of activity must also be reported.

The competent authority prohibits activities with pathogens if a risk to the health of the population is suspected, in particular because

• Suitable rooms or facilities for the type and scope of the activities are not available or

the prerequisites for safe disposal of the pathogens are not met.

Deadlines

Notice of exercise: at least 30 days before starting work.

Processing time

1 hour.

Fees

There are no fees.

Legal basis

Section 49 Law for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in humans (Infection Protection Act, IfSG) - notification requirements.