Belgium
Who's Who Top
Government
Though our research is ongoing, we currently have no information regarding Belgium’s governmental biosecurity responsibilities. Any information that should be included on this site can be sent to webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.
National Academies & Academia
Though research is ongoing, we currently have no information regarding Belgian universities or national academies actively working on biosecurity. Any information that should be included on this site can be sent to webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.
Industry
Though research is ongoing, we currently have no information regarding Belgian companies actively working on biosecurity. Any information that should be included on this site can be sent to webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.
Research Institutes & Non-Profits
Institutes and organisations with a direct or indirect role in biosecurity and scientific oversight are included here. Some groups listed here may have only a marginal interest or role in biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.
The European Association for Bioindustries (Europabio)
Comment: Europabio represents 25 national biotechnology associations, 40 global companies, and 1500 small and medium enterprises in promoting the benefits of biotechnology. In addition, Europabio is committed to responsible behavior in biotechnology research and development and has developed an ethical charter for use by its members. Europabio has developed a Code of Ethics which is adopted by all of its members.
Contact: + 32 (0) 2 735 03 13
European Group for Non-Proliferation Studies (EGNPS)
Comment: EGNPS is an independent research group specializing in biological weapons policy and non-proliferation issues. They are committed to monitoring bio-security regulation and bio-safety standards within the European Union. EGNPS provides research support for biological security policy to academics, decision-makers, policy analysts, government and industry experts.
Contact: + 32 (0) 3 677 25 17
Security and Defence Agenda (SDA)
Comment: COMING SOON
Contact: + 32 (0) 2 737 91 48
Events Top
This is a list of events relevant to biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.
2005
Strengthening European Action on WMD Non-proliferation and Disarmament: How Can Community Instruments Contribute?
Date: 7 – 8 December, 2005
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participant(s): UNIDIR, ISIS-Europe, SIPRI, and guests
Description: This conference presented the finding of a one-year research study undertaken by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). The research was aimed at exploring the ways in the EU can contribute to strengthening non-proliferation efforts.
New Defense Agenda (NDA) 4th Experts' Meeting on Bioterrorism
Date: 25 April, 2005
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participant(s): NDA’s Bioterrorism Reporting Group
Description: NDA convened its 4th Bioterrorism Report Group meeting on the subject, “ Countering Bioterrorism: How can Europe and the United States work together?”
New Defence Agenda (NDA) 3rd Experts’ Meeting on Bioterrorism
Date: 25 January, 2005
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participant(s): NDA’s Bioterrorism Reporting Group
Description: NDA convened its 3rd Bioterrorism Report Group meeting on the subject, “Next Generation Threat Reduction: Bioterrorism’s Challenges and Solutions.”
2004
New Defence Agenda (NDA) 2nd Experts' Meeting on Bioterrorism
Date: 18 October, 2004
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participants: NDA's Bioterrorism Reporting Group
Description: NDA convened its second Bioterrorism Report Group meeting on the subject "Countering Bioterrorism: Science, Technology and Oversight."
New Defence Agenda (NDA) First Experts' Meeting on Bioterrorism
Date: 21 June, 2004
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participants: NDA's Bioterrorism Reporting Group
Description: "Prevention and Protection". This also served as a brainstorming session to guide further discussion by the Reporting Group.
Conference on the ethical implications of scientific research on bioweapons and prevention of bioterrorism
Date: 3-4 February, 2004
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participants: European Commission, DG Research, Directorate for “Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food
Research” & Guests
Description: The Conference brought together a multidisciplinary group of experts to discuss the ethical
implications of scientific research on bioweapons and prevention of bioterrorism including issues such as risk communication, dual use technologies and protection of human subjects involved in biodefence
research.
1985
Formation of The Australia Group
Date: June 1985
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participants: 38 States and the European Commission
Description: Following the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in the early 1980's, the need to control the export of potentially dangerous technologies to eliminate further misuse was realized. At that time, the Australia Group was formed to harmonize international export controls of technologies sensitive to the production of chemical weapons. Beginning in 1990, the Australia Group also focused on controlling technologies that could be used for biological weapons programmes.
Legislation Top
Below is a select list of laws in Belgium. As biosecurity is a relatively new and rapidly developing field, many countries have yet to devise or implement laws specific to biosecurity. Since biosecurity has much in common with national security, biosafety, bioterrorism, biological weapons, import / export of dual-use materials, and biodiversity, some countries may develop biosecurity legislation by adapting existing laws within these other areas. Therefore, biosecurity legislation and other laws that could potentially be used as background for biosecurity legislation are included here.
- The Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Law 1978
- Date: 1 July, 1978
- Comment: This law implements Article IV of the BWC and criminalizes biological weapons related activities in Belgium or by Belgian citizens.
Biosecurity Code Examples Top
Below are codes of conduct for life scientists that have been proposed, are in use, or are under development in Belgium. If there are any other codes that should be included on this site, please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.
Europabio: Ethics and Dialogue
