Biosecurity

Biological risks are classified into two categories; biosecurity and biosafety risks. Biosecurity is considered as a series of precautionary measures for reduction of biological risks such as outbreaks infectious diseases in humans and animals, diseases related to agricultural products, preventing quarantined pests and invasive alien species. The most important subcategory of biosecurity is laboratory biosecurity. The release of anthrax microbes in the United States and foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the United Kingdom are examples of non-compliance with the principles of biosecurity. The Security Council Resolution 1540 in 2004 and World Health Assembly resolution 58/29 in 2005 were international efforts for the ratification of biosecurity rules. The most important biosecurity challenges are as follows; lack of coordination between politicians and bioscience scientists, lack of proper legislation, poor management, inadequate training of employees and technicians, selection of inefficient and improper staff and scientists and de novo production of dangerous organisms through direct mutagenicity by terrorists. It is not only the biosecurity which is not prioritized in Iran but also debates such as the risks of genetic engineering (transgenic plants) are prioritized that non-documented statements about the risks of these plants are presented unfairly and without enough information, while all the related discussions in this field is raised in precautionary predictions debate.