Security Sensitive Biological Agents (SSBA)
In January 2009 a new regulatory scheme was implemented by the Department of Health and Ageing to improve the security of biological agents that could potentially be used in a bioterrorist act. The list of regulated agents includes bacterial and viral toxins and agents which pose a danger because of their ease of transmission and/or the severity of illness they cause.
The list is divided into two parts: Tier 1 agents pose the greatest risk, while Tier 2 agents are rated as less likely to pose a security risk. If your laboratory possesses any Tier 1 or Tier 2 SSBA, contact: Denise Cappai (8344 2042) or Dr Paul Taylor (8344 2047).
Tier 1 Agents
| Agent |
Reportable quantity |
|---|---|
| Abrin |
5mg |
| Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax: virulent strains) |
|
| Botulinum toxin |
0.5mg |
| Ebolavirus |
|
| Foot-and-mouth disease virus |
|
| Highly pathogenic influenza virus, infecting humans |
|
| Marburgvirus |
|
| Ricin |
5mg |
| Rinderpest virus |
|
| SARS coronavirus |
|
| Variola virus (Smallpox) |
|
| Yersinia pestis (Plague) |
Tier 2 Agents
Tier 2 agents will be regulated from 2010. The following list is from the COAG Report on the Regulation and Control of Biological Agents. The final list is expected to be available in late 2009.
- African swine fever virus
- Capripoxvirus (Sheep pox virus and Goat pox virus)
- Classical swine fever virus
- Clostridium botulinum (Botulism: toxin-producing strains)
- Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)
- Lumpy skin disease virus
- Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus
- Salmonella Typhi (Typhoid)
- Vibrio cholerae (Cholera: serotypes O1 and O139)
- Yellow fever virus (non-vaccine strains)