Micro-organisms are intentionally cultivated and enriched in certain work environments, for example in research laboratories, for microbiological analysis or in industrial processes. This page is about such intentional use.

What are micro-organisms?

Micro-organisms include, for example, viruses, bacteria, parasites, yeast or mould fungi and other similar organisms. Some micro-organisms are infectious agents that can infect people and cause disease.

Micro-organisms are divided into four risk groups, of which risk group 1 does not cause illness in people. Risk groups 2–4 can cause illness in people. Mould spores and chemical substances released from micro-organisms that can cause allergies and toxic effects are, on the other hand, considered a chemical risk source.

You can find regulations on chemical risk sources in the Swedish Work Environment Authority's provisions and general guidelines (AFS 2023:10) on risks in the work environment, section V.

Infectious agents are micro-organisms that can cause disease.

Infectious agents are micro-organisms, prions and human internal parasites that can cause disease in humans. They are divided into risk groups 2–4, depending on their ability to cause infection in humans and how serious the consequences of an infection can be.

You must notify the intentional use of infectious agents

To be allowed to use micro-organisms that are infectious agents, you as an employer need to notify your activity to the Swedish Work Environment Authority. However, you do not need to notify the use of micro-organisms that are not infectious agents. One such example is fermentation with brewer's yeast in beer production.

You also do not need to notify if the micro-organisms occur unintentionally. An example of this is the growth of pathogenic bacteria in water treatment basins in wastewater treatment plants.

Notify the use of genetically modified microorganisms

If you are going to use genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs), as an operator, you need to notify the Swedish Work Environment Authority. You can read more on the page on contained use of GMMs. Genetically modified micro-organisms are sometimes referred to as recombinant, genetically modified, genetically engineered or transgenic.