Division 5 of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) performs duties under the Chemicals Act (ChemG) in its capacity as the Federal Office for Chemicals (BfC). In this role, it is responsible for protecting humans, animals and the environment from chemicals.
In accordance with the Chemicals Act, the Federal Office for Chemicals is Germany's competent authority for implementing the following EU regulations:
- Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH);
- Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP);
- Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products (Biocidal Products Regulation).
In these procedures, the Federal Office for Chemicals works closely with the other involved federal authorities, establishes the overall German position and represents this externally to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Commission.
Division 5 is also home to the national helpdesk for REACH, CLP and biocidal products (REACH-CLP-Biozid Helpdesk).
Furthermore, Division 5 performs duties under:
- Regulation (EU) No 649/2012 concerning the export and import of hazardous chemicals;
- Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on persistent organic pollutants and amending Directive 79/117/EEC;
- Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer.