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Collect data – save lives
Listen to the article:
In early 2026, the German Poisoning Registry (DVR) will be launched at the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. Dr Yuri Bruinen de Bruin, Head of the Registry, explains what it’s all about.
Mr Bruinen de Bruin, “Poisonings” sound like something from the past in our society. Whom are they affecting?
At first glance, poisonings may seem like a thing of the past, but each year, the Poison Centres (GIZ) handle up to 300,000 enquiries. Many of these calls come from parents whose children have ingested cleaning products or medications. In addition, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) receives over 8,000 reports annually, including those related to workplace accidents. Therefore, poisonings affect all segments of society.
What is the goal of the German Poisoning Registry?
The German Poisoning Registry (DVR) is a central platform for consultation cases from the GIZ, as well as reports from doctors and accident insurance providers. For the first time, it will provide an overview of poisoning incidents in Germany, enabling targeted prevention and better information for the public and professionals. As an early warning system, it will help save lives in the future.
Why hasn’t such a registry existed before?
Until now, there was no legal basis. The GIZ collected poisoning data regionally and separately. Since 2023, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has been tasked with harmonising and consolidating this data. The DVR fills in the existing gaps.
What data is collected, and what happens to it?
The GIZ collects core data with every call, such as age, gender, the substance involved, and the severity of the poisoning. This data is anonymised and transmitted to the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, where it is structured and analysed according to various parameters. We monitor the data in such a way that we can detect anomalies early on. Additionally, we respond to enquiries and publish annual reports.
How can the DVR help identify poisoning trends early on?
If unusually severe poisonings occur with a product group, such as dietary supplements or detergents, or if more inquiries than usual are received, the system will alert us, allowing quick action to be taken.
In the event of a larger incident, such as a fire in a chemical plant with numerous poisoning reports, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment will immediately forward this information to the relevant federal and state authorities. In this way, consultation leads to insight, insight leads to prevention, and prevention leads to safety.
