German Hazardous Substances Law

German hazardous substances law serves as a national supplement to the requirements of European hazardous substances legislation. Its specific provisions must be taken into account – alongside European rules – when distributing products within the Federal Republic of Germany. Key German regulatory instruments in this field include the German Chemicals Act, the Ordinance on the Prohibition of Chemicals, the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, and the Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances. Their essential contents are presented and discussed. The national legal hierarchy regarding hazardous substances and the enforcement and compliance monitoring carried out by various stakeholders are also addressed.