In memoriam Greet Smets

Save the dates!

BBP workshop Q4 
We are organizing a BBP workshop in the autumn and would love to hear from our members! Please share your burning questions and any biosafety issues you would like us to address. You can vote for your preferred topic or suggest any other topics you believe should be included via the following link. Your input is invaluable to us! 

Biosafety training, September 8-12, 2025, EUBC (EU Biotech Campus Charleroi) 
This training focuses on identifying and managing biological risks through knowledge of containment, protective equipment, and waste management. The course combines theory, practical exercises, and laboratory visits (BSL3). This training is conducted in French. For more info & registration, see https://www.eubiotechcampus.training/product-page/biosafetyhttps://www.eubiotechcampus.training/product-page/biosafety.  

Principles of Biosafety, September 15-19, 2025, Antwerp 
This year, the University of Antwerp, the Institute of Tropical Medicine, and Perseus (3BIO) are once again offering an intensive 5-day course that thoroughly reviews all essential elements of assessing and managing biological risks. The course will integrate theoretical concepts with practical applications, featuring a variety of topics relevant to daily practice, including laboratory visits and live demonstrations. This course is conducted in English.  
For more info & registration, see https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/summer-winter-schools/principles-of-biosafety/. 

Varia

BBP workshop, March 13th 2025 at GSK 

Thanks to our Steering team member Michel Cereghetti for hosting this very interesting event on “Large scale contained use - Polio certification in an eradication period”, where we got the opportunity to visit a LS2 facility from the visitor gallery, got different presentations on biosecurity challenges and the management of the Polio certification in an eradication period and visited the GSK training center where we got an inside in the leak reduction program. 

BBP get together 2025 

Thanks to all who joined the BBP get-together at the EBSA conference in Maastricht for a fruitful and pleasant evening! 

Procedural changes contained use in Flanders  

In our previous BBP Flash we’ve announced procedural changes in the notification procedure for contained use of GMOs and/or pathogens in the Flemish Region, starting from March 1st, 2025.  The presentation is available here.

To clarify these changes and address questions, an online info session was organized on February 11th 2025 (10-12h) by ‘Departement Omgeving’. 

 Also, Flowchart procedures for first and subsequent uses, as well as a new form “Niet substantiele wijziging” have been published on the website of SBB: Contained use of GMOs and/or pathogens: Notification procedure in the Flemish Region | Belgian Biosafety ServerContained use of GMOs and/or pathogens: Notification procedure in the Flemish Region | Belgian Biosafety Server  

Local Organizing Committee (LOC) EBSA 2026 in Bruges 

Want to join the LOC next year? We are looking for enthusiastic BBP members who want to help finding speakers, suggest gifts for attendees and speakers, identify local tours/activities and can assist during the conference in the plenary sessions (going around with the microphone for questions, etc.). Knowing Bruges or its surroundings is not a must, but definitely a plus. Please contact us before June 24th 2025 via mail (bbp.steeringteam@ebsaweb.bebbp.steeringteam@ebsaweb.be) 

Updates on SBB website 

SBB recently updated the document "Gestion des déchets" / "Afvalbeheer" related to Contained use - Criteria for containment levels and other protective measuresContained use - Criteria for containment levels and other protective measures as well as the data on contained use activities in Belgium: Contained use activities in Belgium - Some figuresContained use activities in Belgium - Some figures