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Biosecurity Resources

S3: Science Safety Security

Biorisk Management 

In addition to biosecurity requirements and standards outlined in laws and executive policies, there are several overarching principles and strategies set forth to demonstrate the principles and objectives of the United States Government towards biosecurity and safeguarding the nation against the misuse of biological materials. These documents do not focus on the individual tenets of biosecurity – physical, information (cyber), or personnel reliability – but rather they address more than one of these disciplines under a biorisk management approach.

There are biosecurity publications that are internationally recognized as good practice and may or may not be enforced standards in other countries. In the United States, they may be used as references to demonstrate international efforts to share voluntary standards to promote safe and secure laboratory practices. These efforts, as well as training developed by U.S. Government agencies, have contributed to a national understanding about the importance of securing facilities which possess or use biological agents (e.g., conducting research with these assets).

There are also advisory groups and task forces that issue reports on the status of current biosecurity efforts or make recommendations for future improvements. The following descriptions are brief summaries of the applicable voluntary guidance, recommendations, and training, with links to the full references and points of contact for further information, if applicable.

Guidance - United States

U.S. Government Policy on Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern: This policy establishes regular review of U.S. Government funded or conducted research with certain high-consequence pathogens and toxins for its potential to be Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) in order to mitigate risks as appropriate and collect information needed to inform the development of an updated policy, as needed, for the oversight of DURC. More information on High Consequence Research Oversight.

Guidance - International

CEN CWA 15793: Laboratory Biorisk Management Standard (expired): This laboratory biorisk management standard is based on a management system approach. The management system approach enables an organization to effectively identify, monitor, and control the laboratory biosafety and biosecurity aspects of its activities. The requirements of this standard are performance based, generic, and are intended to be applicable to all organizations handling biological agents or toxins, regardless of the type or quantity of biological agents handled. This standard takes a risk-based approach, but it does not employ biological agent risk classification or laboratory safety/containment levels, although such approaches can be entirely compatible with this approach.

Other United States Resources