International frameworks on biosecurity

With the development of society towards a more globalized and interconnected community as well as the significant changes in demographics during the late 20th early 21th century, a re-emergence of infectious diseases has been registered. The origin of the recent rise of epidemiology is zoonotic (61%) and the majority of recently developed human pathogens originated from animals (75%).

This represented a shift in the recent decades from curative to preventive medicine and thus with it the emergence of the concept of biosecurity as related to the necessity and benefit of preventing by securing.

Biosecurity has as objective the defence for humans, animals and environment against risks posed by diseases and organisms. The primary tools are "exclusion, eradication and control, supported by expert system management, practical protocols, and the rapid and efficient securing and sharing of vital information."

Biosafety is complementary to biosecurity and it's defined as "the implementation of laboratory practices and procedures, specific construction features of laboratory facilities, safety equipment, and appropriate occupational health programs when working with potentially infectious microorganisms and other biological hazards".

Definition of Biosecurity by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) =

biosecurity is a strategic and integrated concept that encompasses the policy and regulatory frameworks (including instruments and activities) that analyse and manage risk in food safety, public health, animal life and health, and plant life and health, including associated environmental risk 

Such approach to biosecurity aims at creating a holistic and comprehensive understanding of biological security for all involved stakeholders, humans, animals and environments, in the Earth systems as to emphasize the importance on the interconnectedness of all involved parties.

In conclusion, in order to already forecast the necessity for a unified concept of biosecurity including human, plant and environment heath, it is important to consider already now the implementation of a strengthened collaboration and interaction among all parties and at all scales.

This outcome is enabled by a dynamic political and legislative structure based on continuous, inclusive and intersectional dialogue. 


References:

Black, R. and I. Kireeva (2009), International biosecurity frameworks to protect biodiversity with emphasis on science and risk assessment, in Lockie, S. and D. Carpenter (eds.) Agriculture, biodiversity and markets: Livelihoods and agroecology in comparative perspective. (London: Taylor and Francis Group)


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