Federal Select Agent Program first annual report released

What

The Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) released today its first annual report of data on the regulation and oversight of laboratories that work with biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public, animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products (select agents and toxins). The report aims to improve public understanding of the work performed by these unique laboratories and how the federal government ensures this work is done as safely and securely as possible.

The report summarizes program data for 2015, including:

The report is one component of efforts underway by FSAP following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 90-day internal review, and recommendations put forward by the Fast Track Action Committee on Select Agent Regulations (FTAC-SAR).  This report demonstrates the program’s commitment to responsibly sharing data about the regulation of select agents and toxins.

The report can be found here.

FSAP is managed jointly by CDC’s Division of Select Agents and Toxins, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Agriculture Select Agent Services.  The program was established as part of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 to increase the security and oversight of select agents and toxins with the authority to create and enforce regulations that dictate how, where, and by whom select agents and toxins could be possessed, used, and transferred.

Who

Daniel Sosin, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P., deputy director and chief medical officer, CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response; and acting director CDC’s Division of Select Agents and Toxins

To schedule an interview, please call (404) 639-3286 or email media@cdc.gov.

###
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES