Regulation of chemicals demands assessment of risks rather than identification of hazards only

This position paper was collaboratively written during the international expert symposium "EU Chemicals Assessment - Risk- or Hazard-based?" that was organised by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Berlin on November 27th and 28th 2025. Twenty experts from several institutions and European countries considered the scientific merits of both hazard-based and risk-based approaches to chemical safety assessment. While hazard information is essential, it does not reflect real-world exposure conditions that determine the likelihood of harm. On balance, we support a risk-based approach because it enables more proportionate, transparent and scientifically grounded regulatory decisions.