A bioterror attack is one of the greatest threats that our nation faces today. Recent incidents such as the swine flu outbreak and the contamination of food products demonstrate how rapidly a biologically hazardous situation can escalate into a catastrophic incident. Now, consider the potential impact of a far more potent biological toxin escaping from a biofacility. A very small amount of any such toxin could lead to disastrous consequences and significant loss of life. As a result, the Security Industry Association (SIA) has made improving security at biolabs and facilities one of its key legislative priorities for 2009.

In December 2008, the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism issued a report titled, “World at Risk.” The report, which was included in the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, identified several insufficiencies in biosecurity.

“Biotechnology has spread globally,” the report noted. “At the same time that it has benefited humanity by enabling advances in medicine and in agriculture, it has also increased the availability of pathogens and technologies that can be used for sinister purposes. Many biological pathogens and nuclear materials around the globe are poorly secured — and thus vulnerable to theft by those who would put these materials to harmful use, or would sell them on the black market to potential terrorists.”

In early 2009, President George W. Bush responded by issuing Executive Order 13486, which established a working group on “Strengthening the Biosecurity of the United States.” The working group is responsible for evaluating existing laws and practices with regard to the physical, facility and personnel security of federal and non-federal labs that possess select biological agents and toxins. The group must report its findings to President Obama no later than July 9, 2009, and its report is expected to include several legislative recommendations intended to strengthen safeguards at labs and biofacilities.

On the day he was inaugurated, Obama issued a memo that furthered President Bush’s efforts on biosecurity. The memo emphasized the administration’s focus on preventing bioterrorism; created the capacity to mitigate the consequences of bioterror attacks, accelerated new medicines, vaccines and production capabilities; and advanced an international effort to contain the impact of major infectious disease epidemics. This focus has led to increased congressional interest regarding security concerns at these facilities.