In the past decade, the United States (U.S.) has enacted extensive federal legislation to regulate the possession, use, and transfer of dangerous microorganisms and toxins. Yet, few international laboratories have implemented similar safeguards. Limited data are available concerning the types of biological agents researched in non-U.S. laboratories and the biosafety and biosecurity practices employed to maintain those agents. To start addressing these knowledge gaps, an online survey was administered by BioInformatics, LLC in 2005 to 765 life scientists from 81 countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.Survey results revealed that participants are actively engaged in research with a wide variety of biological agents. Moreover, analysis of the biosafety and biosecurity data revealed several interesting findings; these findings are summarized into three major themes: biosafety is more prevalent than biosecurity, simple practices and techniques predominate, and perceptions of risk vary regionally. This survey provided unique insight into the variety of dangerous microorganisms and their toxins studied worldwide and uncovered a consistent weakness in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity. Because many of these facilities are located in volatile areas of the world, these findings indicate a potentially significant risk, and future actions are warranted to improve the safe and secure handling of biological agents internationally. Articles

With recent outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), anthrax, Nipah and the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, much emphasis has been placed on the rapid identification of infectious agents globally. As a result, laboratories are building capacity, conducting more advanced and sophisticated research, increasing their staff, and establishing reference collections of dangerous pathogens in an attempt to reduce the impact of infectious disease outbreaks and to characterise disease-causing agents. With this expansion, the global laboratory community has started to focus on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity in order to prevent the accidental and/or intentional release of these agents. Laboratory biosafety and biosecurity systems are used around the world to help to mitigate the risks posed by dangerous pathogens in the laboratory. Veterinary laboratories carry unique responsibilities with regard to workers and communities to handle disease-causing microorganisms safely and securely. Many microorganisms studied in veterinary laboratories not only infect animals, but also have the potential to infect humans. This paper will discuss the fundamentals of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.

Biorisk management system Part of an organization's management system used to develop and implement its biorisk policy and manage its biorisks (Source: CWA 15793).  A management system is a set of interrelated elements used to establish policy and objectives and to achieve those objectives.  A management system includes organizational structure, planning activities (including, for example, risk assessment and the setting of objectives), responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes, and resources. Biorisk mitigation Actions and control measures that are put into place to reduce or eliminate the risks associated with biological agents and toxins and other Valuable Laboratory Material (VLM). Biosafety risk assessment An analytical procedure designed to characterize safety risks in a laboratory. A biosafety risk assessment allows a laboratory to determine the relative level of risks its different activities pose and helps guide risk mitigation decisions so they are targeted to the most important risk. A biosafety risk assessment should consider every activity and procedure in a laboratory that involves infectious disease agents. Biosecurity risk assessment An analytical procedure designed to characterize security risks in a laboratory. A biosecurity risk assessment should consider every asset as well as every vulnerability in an institution and its component laboratories and units. Community People outside the workplace potentially affected by the activities of the facility (Source: CWA 15793). Harm The adverse effect on the health of people, animals, or plants on the environment or on property (Source: CWA 15793). Hazard A source, situation, or act with a potential for causing harm (Source: CWA 15793). Incident An event with a potential for causing harm (Source: CWA 15793). Insider Individual with authorized access. Laboratory biosafety The set of containment principles, technologies and practices that are implemented to prevent the unintentional exposure to biological agents and toxins, or their accidental release.

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