In its broad sense, the term biosafety refers to the protection of human health and the environment from potential harm due to biological agents.

Under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and more specifically under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (hereinafter “the Protocol”) ¹, the term biosafety essentially refers to safety procedures aimed at regulating, managing or controlling the risks associated with the use and release of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from biotechnology which are likely to have adverse environmental impacts that could affect the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account the risks to human health. Biosafety comprises multidisciplinary scientific fields including, but not limited to biology, ecology, microbiology, molecular biology, animal and plant pathology, entomology, agriculture and medicine as well as legal and socio-economic considerations, and public awareness.