Harmonised approach for the risk assessment of com-pounds which are both genotoxic and carcinogenic

EFSA has prepared a draft for a harmonised strategy for the
risk assessment of genotoxic and carcinogenic substances and presented this draft for
discussion. The concept examines the exposure of the consumer to a specific substance and
compares this with the carcinogenic effect of a defined dose in an animal experiment.
Genotoxic and carcinogenic compounds are thus to be classified according to their potential
risk.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has voiced its opinion on the EFSA draft. In
principle, the Institute welcomes the concept. However, BfR recommends - amongst other
things - that this strategy be pursued in addition to the previously used ALARA (as low as
reasonably achievable) principle and not instead of it. If the new strategy is used in isolation,
the Institute believes there is a risk that the application of the minimisation principle to all
genotoxic and carcinogenic substances without exception, the current practice, will be
undermined.