Welcome to EBSA

Upcoming meetings

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    27 January 2026

    New features in the EN12469:2025

    Instructor Matthias Bittner

    The course explains why the standard for microbiological safety cabinets (BSCs) EN12469:2000 needed updating. How the European standards group came into being for the review. How such an international group operates. The renewed European standard EN12469:2025 is presented, along with its main features and published parts. It details the changes to performance criteria, their testing and the servicing of the devices. It also explains what to look out for when purchasing, installing and routinely maintaining BSCs.

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    19 February 2026

    EBSA Thursday - Cyberbiosecurity: A Unique Marriage of Biosecurity and Information Systems

    ISO35001:2019 Biorisk management for laboratories and related organizations is the well-known ISO management system standard supporting you in organizing biosafety and biosecurity in your organization and helping you to address all biorisk management issues that need to be addressed in a concerted manner. It builds on the continuous improvement plan- do-check-act-cycle to keep your biosrisk management system up to date and under control. ISO35001 was designed by biosafety experts like you form different countries around the globe, being a truly international standard, within the context of the International Standardization Organization, ISO, Technical Committee TC212, Clinical laboratory testing and in vitro diagnostic test systems

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    02 June 2026

    Pre conference course E - BSL-3 Facilities: From Planning to Performance Verification

    Bruges and Brugge

    Instructors
    Felix Gmünder (CH) and Timo Kehl (De)


    The planning, design, construction and performance review of high containment facilities, including BSL-3, ABSL-3 and BSL-3Ag, requires a well thought out approach if the outcome is to meet the intentions of the owner or client and the users.  

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    02 June 2026

    Pre conference course G - BSO Hard Skills: How do you know what you need to know?

    Bruges and Brugge

    Instructors
    Wendy Shell (AUT) and Chris Pirson (UK)

    This one-day classroom based, interactive course will give participants an insight into the key technical skills for a successful career in biosafety or biosecurity. For those starting out in the role or considering a career as a Biosafety professional it is necessary to demonstrate competency in several key areas, as defined in Technical Standards such as CWA 16335 and ISO/TS 5441. Through case studies, interactive group exercises and taught learning this course will ensure attendees are able to develop their own training pathway to becoming a Biosafety professional. It will enable individuals to identify gaps in current knowledge, skills or experience and the development opportunities to address these, along with accreditation schemes to demonstrate competency.

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    02 June 2026

    Pre conference course H - Evaluating and Embedding Biosafety Skills: From Compliance towards Competence.

    Bruges and Brugge

    Instructors
    Adam Stevenson (UK) and Heidi Auerswald (IT)


    This highly interactive one-day course equips biosafety professionals, laboratory supervisors, and institutional trainers with practical tools to evaluate, strengthen, and embed biosafety competence beyond traditional tick-box training models. Participants will unpack the distinctions between, training, compliance, and competence, and work through hands-on methods to translate those insights into practice. Using a step-by-step improvement plan, each participant will identify key challenges in their home institution and design a 3-month roadmap for upgrading how competence is assessed, reinforced, and sustained. The course draws from ISO 35001, CWA 16335, ISO/TS 5441, and WHO LBM4, and links theoretical frameworks to actionable strategies: job safety analysis, SOP analysis, job specification evaluation, behavioural reinforcement, observation checklists, and building psychological safety. The course is especially valuable for institutions looking to strengthen internal competency frameworks, onboarding, or coaching programs.
     

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    02 June 2026

    Pre conference course B - Applied Biosafety in One Health Surveillance: From Animal Field Sampling to Mobile Laboratory Diagnostics of Highly Pathogenic Viruses

    Bruges and Brugge

    Instructors
    Karin Darpel (DE) and Sophie Duraffour (DE)

    When outbreaks of high-consequence viral pathogens emerge, rapid diagnostic and research activities are often pushed to the front lines - directly into the field, at the heart of the epidemic. But what biosafety precautions are essential in these high-stakes environments, and how can they be effectively applied under demanding, real-world conditions? 

Upcoming external meetings

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    29 January 2026

    Biosafety Cabinet (BSC) Mythbuster Webinar: "Do Heat Sources in a BSC Compromise Protection?"

    In this session, we’ll explore the impact of heat-generating equipment inside a BSC and uncover what the science truly says about airflow, contamination risk, and user protection.

    Hosted by Baker

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    27 August 2026

    20th Applied Biosafety Meeting

    The 20th Biosafety Meeting will take place over two days in Luzern on August 27th and 28th 2026.

News

  1. Apr 23, 2025

    Risk assessment

    The European Biosafety Association (EBSA) recognizes that risk assessment is a fundamental component of biorisk management. Best practices require that every procedure with biological hazards includes an assessment of the risks associated with the performed activities, including a definition of mitigation measures working with biological agents.

    Read more about "Risk assessment"

  2. Nov 7, 2024

    EBSA represented at ABSA

    EBSA at the 67th annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference of ABSA International in Phoenix, Arizona

    Read more about "EBSA represented at ABSA"

  3. Oct 18, 2024

    EBSA conference 2025

    Submit your poster or presentation proposal now!

    Read more about "EBSA conference 2025"