Risk assessment and risk management of transgenic microorganisms and viruses

My name is Esmeralda Prat, I work for a biotechnology developer as biosafety manager and I am active in the European Biosafety Association.

My understanding is that this sections treats mainly the risk assessment of living microorganisms and viruses released into the environment. These may be used in live animal vaccines, environmental remediation, etc.

Kaare Magne Nielsen talked about purified products derived of microorganisms or viruses and inactivated products that have no replication or DNA transfer potential. My understanding is that those two cases are outside the scope of the protocol that addresses Living Modified Organisms.

Annex III of the Protocol is a good starting point to evaluate and then manage the risk of release of live microorganisms and viruses on a case by case basis as well as to take into consideration the public health and evironmental benefits that some of these applications may bring.