to prohibit biocrimes and to promote biosafety and biosecurity

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to prohibit biocrimes and to promote biosafety
and biosecurity
INTERPOLs MODEL LAW

• Angela Woodward, Deputy Director, VERTIC
• Scott Spence, Interpol Biocriminalization Project
  Manager
• Lunch seminar, Tuesday 5 December 2006
• BWC Sixth Review Conference
• Geneva, Switzerland

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An ACT, STATUTE, ORDINANCE, LAW to prohibit
biocrimes and to promote biosafety and biosecurity

• Purpose (Section 2)
• To prohibit biocrimes
• To promote biosafety and biosecurity
• To facilitate the states compliance with
  international obligations to prevent BW
  proliferation
• Elements
• Part B - Prohibitions on BW
• Part C - Biological safety and security
• Part D - Penalties and enforcement
• Part E - Regulations

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Part B Prohibitions on BW (Offences)

• Section 5
• Develop, produce, stockpile, acquire, retain,
  transfer directly or indirectly, or use
  (prohibited materials as defined by General
  Purpose Criterion)
• Intentional release of biological agents or
  toxins for the purpose of
• ? harming and killing civilians, animals or
  plants
• ? to intimidate or coerce a government or
  civilian population to further political or
  social objectives
• Section 6
• Attempt, aid, abet, encourage, assist, counsel,
  incite, threaten, support, act as accomplice or
  finance an act, procure (prohibited materials)
  to commit an act prohibited under section 5

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Part C - Biological safety and security

• Purpose
• To ensure that certain agents, toxins, equipment
  and technology are safely and securely controlled
• To prevent theft, loss, diversion or other
  improper release of controlled biological agents
  and toxins
• To provide transfer controls for certain dual-use
  biological equipment and technology

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Part C - Biological safety and security

• Establish and maintain lists
• controlled agents and toxins
• controlled biological equipment and technology
• Licensing of individuals and entities working
  with listed agents/toxins
• Safety and security measures
• Risk assessment for activities involved
  uncontrolled biological agents/toxins
• Internal and international transfer controls

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Part D - Enforcement

• Responsible Authority
• Biological Emergency Response and Investigation
  System (BERISS)
• Record-keeping and reporting
• Inspections ? of individuals, entities and
  facilities subject to regulation to ensure
  compliance
• Investigations ? of suspected violations
• Criminal and civil penalties
• Application/jurisdiction
• ? natural and legal persons within territory
  citizens abroad
• International co-operation and assistance for law
  enforcement

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Part D Enforcement A responsible
authorityFunctions and duties to include

• Supervise/monitor enforcement of the
  Act/regulations
• Gather and report data/information for any
  international reporting requirements
• Facilitate inspections under the Act
• Prepare guidelines for the conduct of biological
  research for prophylactic, protective or other
  peaceful purpose
• Advise Prime Minister on matters relevant to the
  Act
• Establish, liaise with and review the activities
  of the BERISS

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Part D Enforcement Biological Emergency
Response and Investigation Support System
(BERISS)

• Purpose
• To facilitate communication and response to
  biological emergencies impacting human, animal or
  plant health among law enforcement, public
  health, first-responders, emergency medicine
  practitioners, media etc.
• To assist law enforcement personnel with
  investigations of biological incidents through
  training, provision of expertise/equipment etc.

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Part D Enforcement Biological Emergency
Response and Investigation Support System
(BERISS)

• Functions and duties relating to
• Local response to emergencies associated with
  biological agents and toxins
• Public health and agricultural surveillance and
  reporting systems
• Public emergency announcement system
• Training and equipping law enforcement,
  emergency/first responders
• Threat-based medical/public health detection
  strategies to assess outbreaks
• Receive/review classified biological threat
  intelligence
• Evidence relating to forensic epidemiological
  investigations/prosecutions
• Transmit data/information on biological
  emergencies to responsible authority

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For further information

• INTERPOL
• Interpol Bioterrorism Prevention Resource Centre
• www.interpol.int/Public/BioTerrorism/links/default
  .asp
• Contact Scott Spence s.spence_at_interpol.int
• VERTIC
• Project on national implementation of treaties
  and norms prohibiting weapons of mass destruction
• www.vertic.org/NIM/Construction20page.asp
• Contact Angela Woodward angela_at_vertic.org