• Multiple chemical sensitivity is formally recognised by the national health care system.
• The German General Medical Council supported extensive education of medical practitioners regarding environmental medicine, and evidence-based therapies are being developed. ⁱⁱⁱ
• Under its International Classification of Diseases-10 ("ICD-10") the WHO classifies hypersensitivity (also known in Canada as environmental sensitivities or multiple chemical sensitivities) under Chapter 19 “(injuries, poisonings and certain other consequences of toxic causes)”. Other complex chronic conditions commonly overlapping with hypersensitivity are myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, classified in Chapter 6 (diseases of the nervous system) and fibromyalgia (FM), classified in chapter 13 (diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue). It is noteworthy that the WHO does not allocate any of these three conditions to Chapter 5 (mental and behavioral disturbances). ICD-10 is used in many countries of the world, including Germany, where it is called ICD-10-GM (GM= “German modification”). The German Institute of Medicine, Documentation and Information Section, has confirmed that the above classifications are used in Germany, and that it is “assumed that the above mentioned diseases are uniformly classified in other states” (countries).

ⁱⁱⁱ Seidel HJ. Environmental medicine in Germany--a review. Environ Health Perspect. 2002;110 Suppl 1:113-8.:113-118.