Security sensitive biological agents
The deliberate release of harmful biological agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and toxins has the potential to cause significant damage to human health, the environment and the Australian economy.
The Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) ‘Report on the Regulation and Control of Biological Agents’ identified that existing regulations were focused on safety rather than security; and that there was a need to regulate the secure storage, possession, use and transport of biological agents to minimise the risk of use for terrorism or criminal purposes.
The aim of the Security Sensitive Biological Agent Regulatory Scheme is to limit the opportunities for acts of bio-terrorism or bio-crime to occur using harmful biological agents.
Further information about security sensitive biological agents is available on the Department of Health website.
Criminal or terrorist use of security sensitive biological agents is investigated by the Western Australia Police Force.
To report stolen or missing security sensitive biological agents, any suspicious activity or security concerns contact the WA Police Force on 131 444 or the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
