An Analytical Approach: biosafety and biosecurity oversight framework
Canada has developed An Analytical Approach for the Development of a National Biosafety and Biosecurity System, a tool to strengthen global biosafety and biosecurity. This tool is available as an online course.
The Analytical Approach is meant to be used by interested countries and regions, ultimately contributing to global biosafety and biosecurity capacity. It provides a methodology for regional, national or local authorities to develop, modernize, implement and maintain national biosafety and biosecurity systems. This guide supports our commitment to promoting national biosafety and biosecurity under the:
- Global Health Security Agenda, Biosafety and Biosecurity Action Package
- Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction
- Public Health Agency's workplan as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Biosafety and Biosecurity
How to use the tool
Canada recognizes that each country and region has unique needs, processes and capabilities. To adapt to this, the Analytical Approach has a modular, scalable and flexible format. It enables countries and regions to work through the methodology independently and at their own pace.
Countries and regions can also enter the methodology at different points depending on their current state, such as those who:
- already have a framework and wish to validate it
- wish to update or modernize their current framework
- have no oversight in place
Each module of the Analytical Approach contains, where relevant, a number of components to help users through the process, including:
- examples and sample exercises
- workshop outlines
- templates for organizing and gathering data
Benefits of the tool
The work that takes place in biological facilities across the world is essential to support research for disease prevention and response and the development of new pharmaceuticals and technologies.
Work with pathogens without national oversight systems for biosafety and biosecurity can lead to the accidental or deliberate release of these agents, potentially causing an outbreak.
The establishment of a comprehensive regional or national oversight system is key to mitigating the public health risks posed by the use of pathogens and toxins in biological facilities.
The Analytical Approach can benefit a country in:
- identifying the most urgent needs within their biosafety and biosecurity systems
- encouraging the development of solutions to address local biosafety and biosecurity issues that are practical and sustainable
- prioritizing opportunities for enhanced preparedness, response and action
- improving their World Health Organization Joint External Evaluations scores for indicators 6.1 and 6.2, pertaining to national biosafety and biosecurity systems
- achieving compliance with biosafety and biosecurity standards under the:
- Biological Weapons Convention
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540
Contact us
Email questions or feedback to pathogens.pathogenes@phac-aspc.gc.ca.
You may also contact us through mail at:
Public Health Agency of Canada
100 Colonnade Rd
Nepean ON K2E 7M3
More information
This project was funded by Global Affairs Canada's Weapons Threat Reduction Program.