In Germany, there is a general obligation to obtain a permit for activities involving pathogens. Anyone wishing to bring pathogens to Germany as a responsible person, export them, store them, dispense them or work with them requires a permit.

The term pathogens refers to pathogens capable of reproduction (viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites) or other biological transmissible pathogens that can cause an infection or a transmissible disease in humans.

Activities involving pathogens include in particular

• Experiments with pathogens capable of multiplication,
• microbiological and serological tests to identify pathogens that must be reported,
• targeted enrichment or multiplication of pathogens.

Exemptions from the authorization requirement exist for the following groups of persons or activities:

• Doctors, dentists and veterinarians who carry out microbiological tests for diagnostic purposes on their own patients,
• Persons who carry out microbiological quality assurance work and have the necessary expertise and are exempted from the permit requirement by the competent authority upon request,
• employees who work under the supervision of a person who has a permit or is exempt from the permit requirement
• certain procedures (e.g. sterility tests).

Further information on the topic of "Activities involving pathogens" can be found in the services:

• Pathogens: Notification - of changes to activities involving pathogens
• Pathogens: Notification - of the commencement of activities with pathogens