44TH GENERAL SESSION OF THE EUFMD COMMISSION
ONLINE 21-22-23 APRIL 2021
Special Committee for Biorisk Management (SCBRM) Presenter: Kirsten Tjørnehøj, Chairperson SCBRM (Appendix 14) Key Messages 1. The committee has established three working groups on Minimum Biorisk Management Standards (MBRMS), training in biorisk management and accepted inactivation/disinfection methods. 2. Some changes to the MBRMS proposed by MN have been accepted with minor adjustments, with main issues to be discussed at an in-person meetings. 3. A summary of inactivation/disinfection methods from the MBRMS and practices of SCBRM members has been drafted, and the future needs identified. 4. A comprehensive learning matrix has been developed. 5. The committee is working with the STC on a joint opinion on shipment of inactivated FMDV in LFDs.
Summary Ms. Tjørnehøj introduced the committee of nine members from Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and Sweden. The committee has held three on-line meetings in the first biennium. Three working groups have been established: on the revision of the EuFMD Minimum Biorisk Management Standards (MBRMS) (chaired by M. Eschbaumer), training in biorisk management (chaired by R. O’Neill) and the Annex/database of accepted inactivation/disinfection methods (chaired by G. Harkess). Continued development of the EuFMD Minimum Biorisk Management Standards (MBRMS), including Tiers A and B (Coordinator Michael Eschbaumer) The list of comments from the 2019 revision of Tiers C and D was evaluated, and some changes proposed. The proposed document has been accepted by Member Nations (MN) and the OIE, and minor adjustments from the EU (DG SANTE) have been implemented. There is still an outstanding list of more principal issues raised by the MN in both 2019 and 2021, which require more in-depth discussion and will necessitate a SCBRM in-person meeting to resolve. These include a reevaluation of the risk associated with full-length FMDV RNA, a framework for the evaluation, adoption and dissemination of alternative virus inactivation procedures, the resolution of outstanding issues related to the concept of routine exclusion testing for FMDV in free areas, and a general reassessment of permitted Tier C activities and the Tier C/D division. With regard to the drafting of standards for Tiers A and B, the SCBRM has requested the participation of biosafety representatives from endemic countries in the European region. The SCBRM proposes new members Can Çokçalışkan, Turkey, and Sharon Karnieli, Israel. Stephan Karlen, Switzerland, will leave IVI and will be replaced by his successor. Training in biorisk management (Coordinator Ronan O’Neill) On-line training modules to support the EuFMD MBRMS should make it more accessible, and could focus target audiences on highly relevant sub-sections and will enable the basic text to be supported with more modern audio-visual explanation.
41
