News

The Federal Office for the Environment published its guidelines for the safe handling of animals in containment. The document may be downloaded here:

German

French

EBSA will hold its annual meeting from April 2nd to 5th 2019 in Bucharest, Romania. Further details may be found here.

The Public Health Agency of Canada released their latest data on laboratory exposures to pathogens and toxins from the year 2017. The article may be found in the following link.

Below you may find links to two recent articles on biosecurity issues our community and the world at large are currently facing. The first article discusses the implications of generating synthetic viruses, while the second article looks at gene drives in agro-sciences and how this may impact our lives.

If you feel like discussing these issues or simply want to let us know your thoughts on this, please use our forum. We will gladly take your comments and forward them to our national authorities to further discuss future developments in the field.

Synthetic Viruses - Anything New?

Agricultural Research or a New Bioweapon System?

The UK's Telegraph newspaper filmed parts of a documentary on the threat of bioterrorism during this year's SBNet Meeting talking to a number of participants. Please see the following links for further details:

Article

YouTube

With the passing of Helmut Bachmayer Europe has lost a pioneer of biosafety. His human, humorous and unflustered personality will be sorely missed by many people who were fortunate to have crossed his path. As an expert he was unequalled. He defended scientific meticulousness on all levels vigorously. Helmut influenced processes and guidelines of many companies. His input to the standardisation of biosafety management systems was pivotal. Helmut was also engaged in national and international biosafety associations. His contribution to strengthen biosafety in Europe, co-initiating the industry meetings during the ABSA conference as well as his involvement as a biosafety expert for WHO are just a small number of examples depicting Helmut's influence. His continued interest in all matters of biosafety followed him to the last.

Additionally, Helmut, with his courses and presentations, was a wonderful trainer and mentor to numerous biosafety experts on both sides of the Atlantic. A great number of people lost a father figure, mentor and friend whom they owe a great amount of gratitude, personally as well as technically.

It is Helmut's wish that today's biosafety experts continue his curious, vigorous and humorous way to develop and promote biosafety in all its facets.

RIP

We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to each and everyone who participated in the 12th Applied Biosafety Meeting in Lugano on August 23rd and 24th 2018, be that as participant, speaker, exhibitor or sponsor. Preliminary feedback from a number of people indicates that the meeting was a roaring success. Thank you. All this would not be possible without your continued support!!!

All presentations will be made available in the members' section once we have received permission from presenters.

If you have any feedback, suggestions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact our office at swissbiosafety@wildapicot.org.

Furthermore, during the AGM held on August 23rd 2018 members present accepted some modifications to our bylaws. You may find the updated version on our website or here.

Last but not least, we would like to kindly invite you to our next meeting scheduled for August 22nd & 23rd 2019 in Berne. Mark your calendars! Keep an eye on our website for any further news or developments in the field of biosafety.

We would like to draw your attention to two new risk assessment guides currently available online from the Public Health Agency of Canada as follows:

Pathogen Risk Assessment

Biosecurity Risk Assessment

Yarbrough et al. looked at contamination of instruments, the environment and laboratory staff during routine diagnostics work in the laboratory. The article, published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, may be accessed through the following link.

The Italian Biosafety Platform will be holding their 7th Biosafety Conference in Siena from September 13th to 14th. More information may be found under the following link.