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Report activities with pathogens in accordance with the Infection Protection Act (IfSG)

Service Description

If you, as the responsible person or permit holder, intend to take up specific activities with pathogens (permit-free or subject to authorization in accordance with Section 44 or 45 of the Infection Protection Act), you must notify the competent authority.

The term "pathogens" refers to reproducible agents (viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites) or other biologically transmissible agents that can cause an infection or a transmissible disease in humans.

The obligation to notify exists regardless of whether the activities have already been notified previously by another responsible person or permit holder, or whether they are new activities that have not yet been notified. The activity is taken up "for the first time" if the responsible person has never worked with the specific pathogen before.

Activities with pathogens include, in particular, experiments with pathogens capable of reproduction, microbiological tests and methods for the detection of pathogens subject to notification, targeted enrichment or reproduction of pathogens and the storage of pathogens.

Important: Even if you do not require a permit but carry out activities with pathogens, you must report this.

Process flow

You must submit the notification to the competent authority at least 30 days before you intend to commence work.

The authority will check your documents and carry out an on-site inspection if necessary.

Who should I contact?

Please contact the Thuringian State Office for Consumer Protection.

Competent authority

Thuringian State Office for Consumer Protection, Department 31

Requirements

  • Permit or exemption in accordance with the Infection Protection Act
  • There is no risk to public health. In particular
    • suitable rooms or facilities must be available for the type and scope of the activities and
    • the conditions for safe disposal must be met.

Which documents are required?

  • Certified copy of the permit in accordance with the Infection Protection Act (if this was issued by another authority) or information on exemption from the permit within the meaning of the Infection Protection Act
  • Information on the nature and scope of the intended activities and disposal measures:
    • Listing or naming of the pathogens in accordance with the Infection Protection Act and classification of the pathogens (biological agents) in risk groups in accordance with the Biological Agents Ordinance
    • Presentation of the disposal routes and disposal procedures for infectious waste in accordance with "Protective measures for activities involving biological agents in laboratories" and "Guidelines for the treatment, inactivation and testing of waste".
  • Information on the condition of the rooms and facilities:
    • Submission of the floor plan with functional designation of the rooms, i.e. designation of the floor, representation of the access routes, designation of the laboratory rooms for microbiological work, description of the function of the laboratory rooms.
    • Description of the demarcation to other areas in which no activities involving biological agents of the specified risk group are carried out.
    • Risk assessment and assignment of the activities to a protection level in accordance with the Biological Agents Ordinance.
    • Description of the room equipment and room layout. A detailed description of the work rooms is required, in particular a description of the surfaces, laboratory tables, installations, ventilation systems, windows, desks.
    • Description of the supply and disposal areas, the ancillary rooms, any animal stalls and the technical equipment.
    • Compilation of a list of laboratory equipment with location details, in particular a description of the steam sterilizer used for the disposal of biological agents. Information on maintenance, effectiveness checks and description of the waste containers for the disposal of microbiological waste.
  • Description of the protective measures:
    • Evidence of protective measures for targeted and non-targeted activities involving biological agents in laboratories in accordance with the "Technical Rules for Biological Agents".
    • Presentation of the labeling of workplaces, in particular the installation of doors, collection containers and furnishings with the biohazard symbol in accordance with "Biological Agents Ordinance Annex I" or DIN standard "Medical-microbiological laboratories; safety labeling".
  • Submission of the operating instructions in accordance with the Biological Agents Ordinance and DIN standard "Medical-microbiological laboratories; requirements for the organizational plan"
  • Submission of the hygiene plan in accordance with the "Technical Rule for Biological Agents" and DIN standard "Medical-microbiological laboratories; requirements for the hygiene plan")
  • Information on the presence of an animal house

What are the fees?

The fees are based on the time spent and any expenses incurred.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

The activity must be notified at least 30 days before the intended commencement of activities.

The activity may only commence if the notification is complete and the activity is not prohibited after examination of the documents and the premises.

Processing duration

Processing Time: 30 Days
nach Vorliegen der vollständigen Unterlagen

Legal basis

DIN EN12740 - Guidelines for the treatment, inactivation and testing of waste

DIN 30739 - Containers for infectious waste with a nominal volume of 30 l to 60 l

DIN 58956-10 - Medical microbiology; medical microbiology laboratories; safety labeling

DIN 58956-3 - Medical microbiology; medical microbiology laboratories; requirements for the organization plan

DIN 58956-5 - Medical microbiology; medical microbiology laboratories; requirements for the hygiene plan

Applications / forms

Administrative court action

What else should I know?

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

Employees who work under the supervision of a person who has the required permit for activities involving pathogens are not required to notify the authorities.

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Technically approved by

Thuringian Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Labor and Family

Professionally released on

18.07.2025

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6Plus)

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