Activities involving pathogens - Show changes

If you perform activities involving pathogens, you must immediately notify the relevant authority of any changes that occur.

Detailed description

You have already received permission to work with pathogens and have notified the relevant authority of your initial commencement of this activity. You must notify the responsible authority immediately if:

  • Make significant changes such as the type and scope of the activity, the condition of the premises and facilities, or disposal measures,
  • cease working with pathogens, or
  • resume work with pathogens.

Even if you are exempt from the licensing requirement, you must report any changes to your activities.



Exempt from the licensing requirement are persons who perform microbiological tests for diagnostic purposes on their own patients. These include, for example:

  • Doctors,
  • Dentists and
  • Veterinarians.

If you are working under the supervision of a person who

  • has a permit or
  • is exempt from the licensing requirement,

Then you do not need to report the change of activity.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • Permission or exemption or release
  • There is no risk to public health. This is primarily due to...
    • Suitable rooms or facilities are available for the type and scope of the activities and
    • The conditions for safe disposal are met.

Documents required

Please send us an informal notification of change.

  • If another authority has issued the permit to work with pathogens: a certified copy of the permit.
  • Documents relating to changes in the type and scope of activities as well as to disposal measures (for example, organizational plan, hygiene concept, disposal concept)
  • Documents relating to changes in the condition of the rooms and facilities (for example, floor plan, room plan)
  • If necessary: Information on exemption from permit requirements

Please note

All activities involving pathogens, including those that do not require a permit, must be reported.



If there is a risk to public health, the responsible authority will prohibit the continuation or resumption of work with pathogens. This is particularly the case if no suitable premises or facilities are available for the activities or if the conditions for safe disposal are not met.

Deadlines

Any significant change must be reported to the responsible authority immediately, without undue delay.

Procedure

  • They file the complaint immediately
  • The responsible authority will review your documents and, if necessary, conduct an on-site inspection. It will then decide whether...
    • whether you are allowed to continue or resume the intended activity with pathogens, or
    • whether they prohibit you from doing the activity.

Processing time

1 hour

Fees

There are no costs involved.

Legal remedies

Contradiction

Legal basis

Law on the prevention and control of infectious diseases in humans (Infection Protection Act - IfSG)


Section 44 of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG)


Section 50 of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG)


Section 45 of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG)

Links on hamburg.de

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Keywords: Activities with pathogens, display of changes Infection Protection Act, notification of changes in activities with pathogens Display of changes in activities with pathogens

Last updated: 13.10.2026