European Biosafety Association
EBSA ivzw
EBSA’s vision is a world where biological safety- and security are integral to all relevant organisations and facilities handling of biological materials.
ID: 194518991651-02
Lobbying Activity
Response to European Innovation Act
22 Aug 2025
The European Biosafety Association (EBSA) welcomes the Call for Evidence on the European Innovation Act. Detailed feedback can be found in the attached position paper. For ease of reference, the executive summary is copied here below. EBSA remains fully available to engage further on any of the points outlined in this document. Founded in 1996, the European Biosafety Association (EBSA) is a professional organization that focuses on biosafety and biosecurity. It serves as a platform for professionals across Europe, and beyond, to share knowledge, collaborate, and promote best practices in the field. EBSA supports the responsible and sustainable development of Europe's life sciences and education sectors through risk-based management of potentially hazardous biological materials. Committed to collaborating with the European Commission, EBSA works to enhance biosafety and biosecurity standard practices while fostering innovation and competitiveness across biotechnology, and human, animal, and plant health sectors. EBSA welcomes the advancing collaboration with the European Commission to continuously uphold and strengthen biosafety and biosecurity standards, with a focus on the simplification and harmonization of the regulatory frameworks for biological risk management relating to the contained use of biological materials pathogenic to humans, animals, and/or plants or from biotechnology approaches. To support innovation and to overcome barriers faced by our members, especially in early lifesciences research, we propose concrete actions such as: Creation of one central register of biological agents (i.e. human, animal and plant pathogens, as well as invertebrate pests) as the authoritative one-stop shop at the EU-level for the hazard classification and regulatory requirements for these biological agents. Simplification of the Animal By-Products Regulations (ABPR) through sector-specific exemptions or alternative means to comply (e.g. when the activity is already covered through other legislation). Adaptation of the Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR) to incentivize Producers to register or to exempt them if used under contained circumstances with safeguards for environmental protection. More details can be found in the attached position paper. EBSA is steadfast in its collaboration with the European Commission to uphold biosafety and biosecurity standards while driving innovation and competitiveness within the biotech sector. Our professional community remains fully available to engage further on any of the points outlined in this report.
Read full responseResponse to Biotech Act
27 May 2025
The European Biosafety Association (EBSA) is an organisation representing biosafety and biosecurity professionals, as well as those in aligned fields. It serves as a platform for specialists across Europe and beyond to share knowledge, collaborate, and promote best practices. EBSA's 600+ members represent 45 countries and include experts from academic, clinical, governmental and industrial environments. EBSA welcomes the European Commissions Call for Evidence on the Biotech Act and is pleased to contribute to this initiative. In response to the request to share views and insights on the main challenges faced by the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors across the EU, EBSA is providing input grounded in its recent position paper on the EU OMNIBUS initiative. In this paper, EBSA outlines key challenges and opportunities for simplifying and harmonising biosafety and biosafety-related EU legislation and emphasizes the need for: A coherent and future-proof regulatory framework, including for emerging biotechnologies, that supports innovation while safeguarding health and the environment; Clearer guidance and consistent implementation across Member States to reduce regulatory fragmentation; Proportionate, risk-based approaches that reflect scientific and technological advances. The full position paper is available here online and in attached file: https://www.ebsaweb.eu/l/library/download/urn:uuid:0a61560c-8374-4c5e-8aa3-31e28dc7cce1/ebsa+position+paper+-+omnibus+-+20250416.pdf?format=save_to_disk As a recognized stakeholder and authoritative organisation in the field of biosafety, EBSA remains fully engaged with, and available for continued dialogue and collaboration on, this important topic.
Read full responseResponse to EU Life sciences strategy
16 Apr 2025
The European Biosafety Association (EBSA) welcomes the Call for Evidence on the EU life sciences strategy. Detailed feedback can be found in the attached position paper. For ease of reference, the executive summary is copied here below. EBSA remains fully available to engage further on any of the points outlined in this document. Founded in 1996, the European Biosafety Association (EBSA) is a professional organization that focuses on biosafety and biosecurity. It serves as a platform for professionals across Europe, and beyond, to share knowledge, collaborate, and promote best practices in the field. EBSA supports the responsible and sustainable development of Europe's life sciences and education sectors through risk-based management of potentially hazardous biological materials. Committed to collaborating with the European Commission, EBSA works to enhance biosafety and biosecurity standard practices while fostering innovation and competitiveness across biotechnology, and human, animal, and plant health sectors. EBSA welcomes the advancing collaboration with the European Commission to continuously uphold and strengthen biosafety and biosecurity standards, with a focus on the following aspects: Simplification and harmonization of the regulatory frameworks for biological risk management relating to the contained use of biological materials pathogenic to humans, animals, and/or plants or from biotechnology approaches. Creation of one central register of biological agents (i.e. human, animal and plant pathogens, as well as invertebrate pests) as the authoritative one-stop shop at the EU-level for the hazard classification and regulatory requirements for these biological agents. Simplification of the Animal By-Products Regulations (ABPR) through sector-specific exemptions or alternative means to comply (e.g. when the activity is already covered through other legislation). Adaptation of the Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR) to incentivize Producers to register or to exempt them if used under contained circumstances with safeguards for environmental protection. EBSA is steadfast in its collaboration with the European Commission to uphold biosafety and biosecurity standards while driving innovation and competitiveness within the biotech sector. Our professional community remains fully available to engage further on any of the points outlined in this report.
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