Developments in Science and Technology in Argentina. Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulations and Guidelines

GOLDSTEIN DE FINK S

Joinville

Congreso; VII Congresso Brasileiro de Biossegurança; 2011

Associaçao Brasileira de Biossegurança (ANBIO)

In many institutions projects are evaluated from a Biosafety point of view, but not everywhere. There is still a need for members of the biological sciences community to increase their awareness of Biosecurity issues and learn to assess their projects with respect to security aspects, in order to minimize the possible use of their research or results with malicious intent, as well as to avoid accidents and laboratory asssociated illnesses. The scientific community should be able to apply self control over these issues. In 2005 the Argentine National Science and Technology Ethics Committee (CECTE) produced a document entitled “Codes of Conduct of scientists and institutions, Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention”.  The Universal Ethical Code for Scientists proposes to encourage among scientists a reflection on the implications and impacts of their work. Biotechnology is regulated by a national law that includes the legal frame developed earlier for this area. Nanotechnology safety is still a controversial issue in the whole world. Although some exposure to nanoparticles is not new, the ever increasing varieties of bioactive nanoscale compounds presents still unknown challenges. NIOSH guidelines are followed by some but not all the researchers involved.Some Biosafety regulations for healthcare have been developed as well as for research with biological risk exposure, but the latter are not in force yet. Biosafety in the veterinary area is subject to SENASA, the National Service for animal health, regulations. They also control biological contaminants in foods. They have a brand new BSL3 facility which is to be open in the immediate future. Cord blood is subject to the Blood Law recent regulations and INCUCAI, institution that manages all transplants in Argentina, is in charge. Slowly, more internal biosafety committees are being formed. CONICET required this from its research centers and Universities, nucleated in the Inter-universitary National Council, have also become more aware of Safety issues and have an annual meeting on the subject.Although there is still a long way to go, the overall panorama seems to be going in the right way.