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BfR stakeholder and public survey: Fourth evaluation on consumer protection in Germany
Project
Project code: BfR-RIKO-08-012017
Contract period: 01.04.2016
- 31.01.2017
Purpose of research: Inventory & Assessment
Keywords: evaluation, consumer protection, public perception
In 2016, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) conducted an evaluation for the fourth time on consumer health protection as well as on its work and on awareness levels among key stakeholders. For this purpose, the general public and experts in the fields of politics and science, in the media and in the relevant associations were asked about the BfR and about topics in the area of consumer health protection in general. As in previous evaluations, interviews were conducted by phone. The general public was represented by a sample of 1,000 respondents aged 14 and above. The four expert groups were each made up of around 100 representatives, with associations divided equally into consumer and industry associations. According to the survey findings for 2016, 33 percent of the general public and 87 percent of experts are familiar with the BfR, if only by name. The figure has been steadily increasing in both groups since the first evaluation in 2004 – although there has only been a minor increase since the previous survey in 2012 (2012: 29 percent of the general public and 82 percent of experts). 61 percent of experts but only five percent of the general public know about the tasks performed by the BfR. Out of these respondents, 63 percent of the experts and 39 percent of the general public evaluate the quality of the BfR’s work as good or very good. 32 percent of the general public and 65 percent of the experts who know the BfR at least by name also know that the BfR publishes information on consumer health protection. Out of these respondents, eleven percent of the general public and 51 percent of the experts make use of this information. The majority of the experts who make use of the information provided by the BfR regard this information as important for their work and say it is of high quality. The most well-known and most frequently used means of communication of the BfR among the general public are the opinions and communications of the Institute as well as brochures and flyers. Alongside the opinions and communications of the BfR, the Institute's website is also well-known and frequently used by the experts. The experts confirm that the work of the BfR is of relevance to society (93 percent agree predominantly or fully with this statement) and describe it as predominantly or completely trustworthy (84 percent agreement) and independent (77 percent agreement). Around 70 percent of the experts say that information from the BfR is useful for their own work, and 56 percent describe the work of the BfR as predominantly or fully transparent. 86 percent of the general public and 95 percent of the experts consider the protection of the health of the public by the state to be important or very important, which underlines the significance of institutions concerned with consumer health protection.
Section overview
Subjects
- Physiology of Nutrition
- Communication Sciences
- Nutritional behaviour
- Toxicology
