Launch Task Force on High Containment facilities

We would like to launch our new BBP task force on high containment facilities, an initiative proposed by K. Anthonis, P. Rüdelsheim & M. Vaerewijck.

This proposal covers the establishment of a BBP working group that enables exchange between actors involved in high containment infrastructure in order to identify bottlenecks and solutions. Topics may include:

• Air-handling specifications
• Room decontamination
• Commissioning equipment (e.g. glove boxes)
• ...

For more information on the purpose, potential participants and working method please open the concept note here. 

International Course ‘Principles of Biosafety’- Registration open

This intensive course, organized by the University of Antwerp and the Institute of Tropical Medicine of Antwerp, in collaboration with Ghent University, University of Namur, Free University of Brussels, Sciensano and Perseus, provides a comprehensive review of all essential elements of assessing and managing biological risks. Theoretical aspects will be combined with diverse topics focused on daily practice.

Participants/ Objective

The course targets anyone involved or interested in biosafety and bio-risk management (e.g. biosafety professionals, life science employees, students, etc.). At the end of the course, participants should have a comprehensive view of all essential elements of biorisk management and should be able to set up a basic biorisk management program.

Online course

This edition will take place entirely online via live webinars on September 13, 20 and 27. In addition, registered participants will get access to recorded sessions which will be complemented with a Q&A session with the trainers.

More information about the course can be found on the PoB21 website.

Plant Health: practical and informative overview documents for the 20 most important quarantine organisms on FAVV-AFSCA website

Professional operators that wish to obtain or maintain a permission (erkenning/agrément) to issue plant passports need to be able to prove that the plant material concerned is free from EU-quarantine organisms. To assist the operators, the FAVV-AFSCA has developed practical and informative overview documents for the 20 most important quarantine organisms, the so-called priority pests, in both French and Dutch:

• https://www.favv-afsca.be/professionelen/
  plantaardigeproductie/schadelijkeorganismen/#b   
• https://www.favv-afsca.be/professionnels/
  productionvegetale/organismesnuisibles/#b

These documents include information such as measures to avoid presence and further spread of these organisms and can help you in setting up a plant health monitoring and management program.

Webinar Bureau Biosecurity: “Laboratory Research: Biosecurity and Dual-Use Implications”-21 June 2021

Can the results of your well-intended research be misused? Would you notice if some of your Eppendorf tubes disappeared from the freezer and how trustworthy are your colleagues?

Bioterrorism is not only a favorite Hollywood scenario, but unusual situations and lack of security awareness in your own laboratory can lead to hazardous consequences with potential negative effects on your research.

The Dutch Biosecurity Office organizes a free webinar "Laboratory Research: Biosecurity and Dual-Use implications" on Monday June 21st, 2021 from 13.00hrs till 14.30hrs. This webinar will provide you tools and best practices that can be useful for you as a researcher to handle potential biosecurity and dual-use challenges and risks.

More information on the webinar can be found here

During this webinar the English version of the Dual-use Quickscan will be launched. Currently it is already available in Dutch via www.dualusequickscan.nl

FAVV-AFSCA contact point for questions focusing on activities for scientific purposes

The FAVV-AFSCA has a specific contact point for operators that mainly have activities for scientific purposes: researchcontactpoint@favv-afsca.be

Both specific and general questions on legislation and implementation thereof for activities for scientific purposes can be posed via this route.

Kind regards

The BBP Steering Team