Background
This project on Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity has developed following initial discussions with key stakeholders including representatives of the European and American Biological Safety Associations (EBSA and ABSA respectively), the Asia Pacific Biological Safety Association, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Three seminars have now taken place to discuss the background and related issues. During these seminars a number of presentations have been made with associated discussion regarding the certification process, what might be regarded as best practice and where the biosafety/biosecurity community are at present in terms of standardization, certification and their development needs.
CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA)
The objective of this CEN Workshop was to develop and promote the adoption of recognized standards for management of biological risks. It is appreciated that this is a wide ranging field, however commonly shared biorisk principles and practices do apply. Specifically, the objectives proposed will allow laboratories to:
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Establish a biosafety and biosecurity management system to minimize risk to employees, the community and the environment that may be exposed to biological materials as a consequence of its activities;
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Implement, maintain and continually improve biosafety and biosecurity management;
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Assure itself of conformance with its stated biosafety and biosecurity policy;
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Demonstrate such conformance to others;
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Make a self-determination and declaration of conformance;
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Seek internationally recognized third party certification of its biosafety and biosecurity management system.
Although more specialized areas such as facilities designed to handle larger animals and or plants will not be specifically addressed by the proposed project, it is anticipated that many of the principles will be widely applicable to such areas. It is also envisaged that should further, more specialized work be required, this will be considered as part of the project process and additional specific annexes or other measures may be considered during subsequent development stages.
Workshop status
The Workshop has completed its activities end 2007 and published a CWA which you can dowload from:
Contact points
CEN WS Chairman & Vice-Chairman
Chair
Dr Stefan Wagener, RBP, CBSP
National Microbiology Laboratory
1015 Arlington Street,
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3R2
Canada
Tel: + 1 204 789 2029
Fax: + 1 204 789 5019
E-mail
Vice-Chair
Dr Gary Burns
AstraZeneca, UK Ltd.
162G15 Lower Courtyard,
Alderley House
Alderley Park
GB-Cheshire SK10 4TG
E-mail
CEN WS Secretariat
Mr Marcel De Vreeze
Nederlands Normalisatie-instituut - NEN
P.O. Box 5059
NL-2600 GB Delft
Tel: + 31 15 2 690 125
Fax: + 31 15 2 690 475
E-mail
CEN Management Centre
Ms Gaïd Le Gall
Programme Manager
Innovation and Business Development
Avenue Marnix 17
B-1000 Brussels
Tel: + 32 2 550 09 39
Fax: + 32 2 550 08 19
E-mail