Biosafety and Biosecurity Report

This consensus study was initiated by the ASSAf Standing Committee on Biosafety
and Biosecurity. The key objective was to undertake a consensus study in which the
findings and recommendations will contribute to policy development/modification
and to inform practice in relation to the improvement of biosafety and biosecurity in the country.
This consensus report provides a review of the state of the biosafety and biosecurity
in South Africa. This review includes an overview of existing legislation, regulations
and practices as they relate to biosafety and biosecurity; an evaluation of existing
measures and capacity to detect, control and prevent the natural, accidental and
spread of infectious agents; and a critical overview of current practice in relation to
the implementation of biosafety and biosecurity measures and the application of
ethics in South African laboratories.
Key findings from the study include the poor education and/or training on research
ethics for life scientists, inadequate compliance with the statutory obligations to
report Notifiable Medical Conditions, the lack of a database of both public and
commercial laboratories in the country and a low level of awareness among life
scientists about national and international conventions, laws and regulations related
to their research.