Division 2 Project-based specific objectives

The last several years have seen a growing association of the term ‘biosafety’ with the term ‘biocontainment’, with a global upsurge of high containment laboratories. Focus on the construction of sophisticatedly engineered facilities has often resulted in undervaluing the many other critical elements of a comprehensive biorisk management programme, including security, personnel and competency, good microbiological technique, accident and incident investigation, and equipment maintenance. In addition, focus on selected facilities at national level may also have resulted in neglecting many other more conventional laboratories that could also benefit from the implementation of a thorough biorisk management system and provision of essential equipment and supplies that underpin safe and secure operation.

There is a need for awareness and better understanding of the risks encountered in laboratory settings, the need for strategies to address them as well as for legislative and regulatory provisions and for appropriate guidance. The improvement of facilities, the provision of indispensable supplies and the education of staff at all levels are encouraged in order to achieve appropriate and thorough management of laboratory biorisk.

Building upon efforts initiated by the Joint Action 2008/307/CFSP in support of WHO activities in the area of biosafety and biosecurity, this Decision seeks to address some of the abovementioned shortcomings.

Focusing on selected individual countries or sub-region(s), the two following projects are proposed: