L. Michael Weaver, Ph.D.Program Coordinator

International Federation of Biosafety Associations

International Federation of Biosafety Associations

International Federation of Biosafety Associations

• International non-profit NGO first established in 2001 • “Safe, Secure & Responsible Work with Biological Materials”

• Since then, we have grown to 39 Member regional and national biosafety associations

• Also have official observer organizations (governments, academia, NGOs, international organizations)– BWC Implementation

Support Unit is an official observer organization

International Federation of Biosafety Associations

• IFBA and its members provide assistance to countries in meeting their obligations under the BWC and implementation of UNSCR 1540– Specifically in the areas of biosafety & biosecurity

Role of IFBA Biosafety Associations

• IFBA is a member of Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Non-Governmental Steering Group

• Provide assistance with Biosafety Biosecurity Action Package 3– a whole-of-government national biosafety and biosecurity system to be put in place– biological risk management training and educational outreach to be conducted – country-specific biosafety and biosecurity legislation, laboratory licensing, and

pathogen control measures to be put in place

Role of IFBA Biosafety Associations

IFBA is also a member of the JEE Alliance• support countries in the coordination and implementation of the Joint

External Evaluations and capacity building• enhance multi-sectoral collaboration and foster partnerships between

Biosafety Associations and government ministries in the development and implementation of national biosafety and biosecurity action plans

Role of IFBA Biosafety Associations

• Move from “red” to “green”

Role of IFBA Biosafety Associations

Role of Biosafety Associations

• Countries can demonstrate compliance by “certifying” the competency of individuals in biosafety and biosecurity

Promote Professional Certification

• Previously no mechanism to assess competency in biosafety & biosecurity

• New IFBA program developed in alignment with ISO 17024

IFBA Certifications Offered

• Professional Certification currently offered in 5 technical disciplines• Biorisk Management (English, French, Arabic, Russian, Spanish)• Biosecurity• Biological Waste Management • Biocontainment Facility Design, Operations & Maintenance• Biological Safety Cabinet Selection, Installation & Safe Use

(Certification in Biorisk Management is a pre-requisite to all other certifications)

Biosecurity Exam Content

Biosecurity Exam Content

• Knowledge of BWC included in the biosecurity exam content

• Member Biosafety associations deliver training geared towards exam content – IFBA delivers the examinations & certifications• Exams are being offered in conjunction with our Member

association conferences, meetings and other events• Exams can also be taken anytime online using Remote Proctoring

System (English only at this time online)

Exam Delivery

Exam Statistics to Date

Exam Statistics to Date

Requesting Assistance

• States parties can request assistance by contacting the BWC ISU, the IFBA or through their local biosafety associations • Michael Weaver, Program Coordinator,

lm.weaver@internationalbiosafety.org• Maureen Ellis, Executive Director, m.ellis@internationalbiosafety.org