19 October 2020
ABSANZ is pleased to advise that the release of a new Position Statement - Enabling Research using SARS-CoV-2. We trust you find this resource valuable as we negotiate the challenges of COVID-19. In coming months we anticipate building a library of Position Statements to assist you and the broader community.
Read More20 September 2020
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment received notification from the European Commission of an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the wild boar population of Germany. ASF is a disease of pigs caused by an infectious virus that is not present in Australia. ASF spreads easily by direct contact between pigs or indirectly by contaminated items.
07 September 2020
Upcoming changes to Australia’s import conditions as a result of the implementation of urgent actions to address the risk of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) on high-risk plant products that are hosts of this pest. Some of these actions will affect the import conditions by which certain types of plant research materials can be imported into Australia.
11 August 2020
ABSANZ is pleased to advise that the release of a new Position Statement - Cloth face mask use in laboratories. We trust you find this resource valuable as we negotiate the challenges of COVID-19. In coming months we anticipate building a library of Position Statements to assist you and the broader community.
Read More12 March 2020
ABSANZ members may be impacted by the availability of consumer goods
Read More21 January 2020
The Department of Agriculture’s draft meeting minutes, some related presentations and the ABSANZ Report from the November meeting are now available.
Read More16 January 2020
The New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) is currently inviting comment on proposed changes to the import health standard for biological products.
Read More09 January 2020
A proposed draft for the facility standard relating to biological products is now available for external consultation.
Read More26 November 2019
The Department of Agriculture are trialling a live stream of the National Biosecurity Forum.
Read More19 November 2019
A reminder that the first phase of consultation on the Issues Paper is still open and there is an opportunity to provide comment before the closing date of 29 November 2019.
Read More12 November 2019
The Security Sensitive Biological Agents Regulatory Scheme Newsletter for October 2019 has now been added to the Regulatory Liaison and Communication section of the ABSANZ website.
Read More25 June 2019
Please be advised that the Call for Nominations for the 2020-23 memberships of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC) and the Gene Technology Ethics and Community Consultative Committee (GTECCC) has been extended. Nominations now close Friday 28 June 2019.
Read More19 June 2019
A public consultation on Australia’s Next Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2020 and Beyond is currently open. This consultation might be of interest given that outcomes of the Strategy could influence the future research agenda in this area.
Read More04 June 2019
The ABSANZ Submission on the Draft Standard 'Safety in Laboratories AS/NZS 2243, part 3 – Microbiological safety and containment' is now available.
Read More31 May 2019
Notes for the OGTR IBC Forum held in Canberra over 28-29 March are now available on the Regulatory Update & Communications page.
Read More20 May 2019
The BCG Submission and Meeting Report from April 2019 are now available to members in the Regulatory Liaison tab on the website. The BCG Meeting Minutes from November 2018 can also be found in this area of the website.
Read More17 April 2019
ABSANZ members have an opportunity to provide comment on the forth edition of the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual. Feedback provided will inform a collective summary narrative from ABSANZ to be included in a collated response to WHO from the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA).
Read More17 April 2019
For those members with roles in biosafety and biosecurity education, there is an interesting article that has been brought to our notice via our links with the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA). The paper is titled "Altering an appreciative system: lessons from incorporating dual-use concerns into the responsible science education of biotechnologists"
Read More16 April 2019
The Legislative and Governance Forum on Gene Technology (the Forum) has agreed to amendments to the Regulations made under the Gene Technology Act 2000. The amendments arise from the Gene Technology Regulator’s Technical Review of the Regulations, and provide clarity on the regulatory status of organisms developed using a range of new technologies. The Governor-General has made the Gene Technology Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2019, and these will commence from 8 October 2019.
Read More11 April 2019
The Neil Walls Scholarship is named in recognition of the effort and support that Neil Walls, one of our founding members, provided ABSANZ during the establishment and his dedication given to ABSANZ over many years. ABSANZ is very pleased to be able to offer a scholarship to subsidise one delegate to attend the ABSANZ 9th Annual Biosafety and Biocontainment Conference to be held in Melbourne, Australia, Monday 28 October – Friday 1 November 2019. Be quick, abstract submissions close on 1 May 2019.
Read More04 April 2019
The draft standard ‘Safety in Laboratories AS/NZS 2243, part 3 – Microbiological safety and containment’ is now available for a second period of consultation. ABSANZ will compile member comments received by 17 May and submit to Standards Australia on your behalf.
Read More04 March 2019
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) just published its "Guidelines for Responsible Conduct in Veterinary Research- Identifying, Assessing, and Managing Dual Use" for the purpose of raising awareness about the dual-use potential of research in veterinary settings, supporting veterinary professionals, researchers and other stakeholders to effectively identify, assess and manage dual-use implications.
Read More13 February 2019
The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has provided ABSANZ with information relating to a current backlog of permits relating to laboratory materials being experienced by their assessment team. This message has been already been provided to import permit applicants but includes information relevant to those who may need to apply for permits in the next months.
Read More18 January 2019
The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has notified ABSANZ of changes that will be made to the import permit assessment process and import conditions for bovine serum and plasma, and related products (imported in volumes greater than 20ml or 20g).
12 November 2018
The minutes of the 2018 Annual General Meeting of ABSANZ are now available
06 November 2018
The IFBA is pleased to have participated in the delivery of a biosafety session at the 33rd World Congress of the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science, held on September 23, 2018 in Florence, Italy.
Read More15 October 2018
ABSANZ is very excited to announce that access is now available to our latest training module, Biocontainment Facility Design, Operations & Maintenance. This on-line “webinar” training course was developed as an education tool in response to a body of knowledge developed by the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA). The IFBA has developed an examination to test participants’ understanding of this BOK. ABSANZ therefore saw a need to prepare participants who wished to sit for this examination with the intention of achieving certification by the IFBA in this important area of biosafety.
Comprising of four modules: Domain A: Biocontainment Guidelines & Standards, Domain B: Programming, Planning, Design & Construction Domain C: Commissioning, Validation & Certification Domain D: Facility Operations & Maintenance
09 August 2018
IFBA is a proud partner of the Stop TB Partnership and we are pleased to announce that Tubi Abiola, member of the Nigerian Biological Safety Association, and previously serving on the IFBA Board of Directors, has been elected to the Core Group of the TB Global Laboratory Initiative (GLI). The GLI is a network of international partners dedicated to accelerating and expanding access to quality assured laboratory services in response to the diagnostic challenges of TB, notably HIV-associated and drug-resistant tuberculosis. Tubi is a certified medical laboratory scientist and IFBA certified Professional in Biorisk Management. She is currently working as a medical microbiologist consultant for the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme, Abuja, Nigeria. Please join us in congratulating Tubi as she continues to advocate for high-quality TB diagnostic laboratories with strengthened biosafety practices and procedures.
09 August 2018
We would like to draw your attention to two new risk assessment guides currently available online from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Read More
06 August 2018
The International Federation of Biosafety Association is pleased to collaborate with the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) in advancing biosafety and biosecurity across Africa. We would like to draw your attention to the upcoming ASLM 2018 Conference "Preventing and Controlling the Next Pandemic - The Role of the Laboratory" to be held in Abuja, Nigeria, December 10-13. Abstract submissions are currently being accepted and may focus on one of three tracks: Pandemic Threat, Laboratory Response, or Synergizing Partnerships.
25 May 2018
Are you an engineer with experience working in a complex plant or building facility? Provide biocontainment advice to the Australian Animal Health Laboratory. Join CSIRO - Australia's premier science research organisation.
14 May 2018
The Animal and Biological Import Assessment Branch (ABIAB), through funding provided under the 2015 Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, is currently undertaking a review of import conditions. This project will ensure the department’s import conditions, associated with animal and biological products, promote efficient processes for the department and clients, and are effective at managing biosecurity risks.
Read More16 April 2018
The Neil Walls Scholarship is named in recognition of the effort and support that Neil Walls one of our founding members provided ABSANZ during the establishment years and his dedication given to ABSANZ over many years. ABSANZ is very pleased to be able to offer a scholarship to subsidise one delegate to attend the ABSANZ 8th Annual Biosafety and Biocontainment Conference to be held in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday 30 October – Thursday 1 November 2018.
28 August 2017
Comments due - COB Friday 15 September.
The ABSANZ Regulatory Liaison and Communication Standing Committee (RLCSC) seeks comments for an ABSANZ submission to the BCG, which ABSANZ attends twice a year on your behalf.
The BCG is a consultative committee within the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DA). This is ABSANZ members opportunity to provide feedback to DA on a wide range of issues that impact people and organisations within the Biosafety and Biocontainment industries. For example, harmonisation of containment facility requirements with other regulators and Standards Australia, Approved Arrangements, Fit and Proper Persons, any new DA Guidelines, BICON and Permit issues, interactions with DA. ABSANZ Members can view ABSANZ Submissions and Responses from the last three years under the Regulatory Liaison tab on the website.
Please submit your comments no later than COB Friday 15 September to execofficer@absanz.org.au
26 July 2017
Funding increase - $27 million to strengthen the planning and response to a national health emergency, should one be triggered by bioterrorist attack or contagious disease outbreak. This funding will support the detection and identification of biological agents of security concern and high risk contagious diseases. Under the Health Protection Program, the activity will be delivered by three organisations:
05 July 2017
The IFBA is pleased to announce the addition of new members to the IFBA’s Board of Directors. Board members are elected by the IFBA Member Biosafety Associations and selected based on a demonstrated record of possessing the specific qualifications and competencies necessary for effective governance of the IFBA. Please see below and refer to the attached for photos and further information on our Board members. 2017 IFBA Board of Directors: 1. Lela Bakanidze, Chair 2. Aamer Ikram, Vice-Chair 3. Ben Fontes 4. Reed Cohen 5. TM Chua 6. Jose Alberto Diaz-Quinonez 7. Pierrette Mefomdjo 8. Dr. Asadulghani 9. Leonora Nusblat 10. Odile Ouwe Missi Oukem-Boyer 11. Viji Vijayan Observers to the IFBA Board: 1. Keith Landy 2. Sheila Ribiero Maureen Ellis Executive Director International Federation of Biosafety Associations
28 April 2017
Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will work to strengthen cooperation to build capacity in bio-safety and bio-security for laboratory and hospital technicians, officials and experts agreed Wednesday. The agreement was made at the ASEAN-Canada Global Partnership Program Forum in Lao capital Vientiane. The three-day meeting aims to enhance and improve laboratory technicians' and policymakers' understanding of bio-safety and bio-security issues and maximize the use of national resources employed to comply with internationally-mandated requirements. For more information http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1038051.shtml
12 April 2017
Implementation of the Approved Arrangements (AA) class 5 biosecurity containment level 1 (BC1) requirements The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (department) has reviewed containment requirements for AA classes 5 and 6 to reduce regulation; harmonise requirements with revised Australian/New Zealand containment standards (where possible); and link with industry best practice. The aim is to incorporate low risk Class 6.1 (medium risk nursery stock) sites and all Class 6.2 (aquatic plants)and 6.3 (rose scion wood for budding) into containment classes 5. The department will be commence implementation of a new BC1 Class 5 structure on 7 April 2017.