IEGBBR

About IEGBBR

The International Experts Groups of Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulators (IEGBBR) Compendium of International Biosafety and Biosecurity Oversight Systems for Human and Animal Pathogens and Toxins is a searchable mobile application that provides detailed descriptions of the national regulatory oversight systems among the 11 IEGBBR member countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States). It allows users will to search and contrast desired aspects of the biosafety and biosecurity oversight approaches for any or all of the IEGBBR member countries.

Content includes statutes and regulations and their regulatory authorities; biosafety- and biosecurity-related definitions and biosafety risk group designations; purpose, scope and activities covered; regulated pathogens and toxins; standards and non-legally binding policy instruments; processes and record management requirements for regulatory authorization; shipment and movement of biological agents and toxins; notification and reporting on biosafety and biosecurity oversight; risk assessment requirements; compliance promotion, monitoring, verification, and enforcement; inspection schemes; accountability and personnel security requirements; non-security personnel requirements and training; biosafety and biosecurity outreach and awareness initiatives; international biosafety and biosecurity agreements, conventions, initiatives, and international biosafety and biosecurity capacity-building.

International co-operation and alignment among regulatory authorities through the IEGBBR contributes to the continued development of knowledge and expertise that strengthens and advances global biosafety and biosecurity regulatory oversight systems. The Compendium will serve as a useful reference tool for biosafety and biosecurity capacity building for IEGBBR members, as well as for countries that aim to develop or strengthen their national biosafety and biosecurity capacities. By providing 11 examples of national oversight systems, it can remove the necessity for extensive legwork prior to the development and implementation of oversight. The IEGBBR Compendium can be used hand in hand with other complementary capacity building reference tools that are available, such as the Joint External Evaluation assessments under the International Health Regulations and the Global Health Security Agenda’s (GHSA) Analytical Approach. The Compendium contributes to ongoing international biosafety and biosecurity efforts that exist internationally, including the Global Health Security Agenda, and strengthens national/regional compliance with commitments under the World Health Organization International Heath Regulations and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.