BIOSECURITY
- Biosecurity encompasses the policies, measures, and systems put in place to prevent the deliberate misuse of biological agents, toxins, or related technologies.
- It includes actions ranging from securing laboratories that work with high-risk pathogens to identifying, managing, and controlling deliberately caused disease outbreaks.
- The scope of biosecurity goes beyond safeguarding human health and also covers the protection of agriculture and animal populations.
- Biosecurity is closely related to, but distinct from, biosafety, which focuses on minimizing the risk of accidental release or exposure to harmful biological agents. Strong biosafety practices form a critical foundation for effective biosecurity.
- In response to historical efforts to develop biological weapons, the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) was adopted in 1975.
- It marked the first global treaty to ban not only the use but also the production of biological weapons, while obligating member states to eliminate any existing reserves.
- India’s physical geography and ecological diversity expose it to biological risks originating beyond its borders. Given the country’s heavy reliance on agriculture and its large population base, the potential impact of such threats is particularly severe.
- Although India has not experienced any confirmed biosecurity attack, there have been reported cases involving the suspected preparation of ricin, a toxin extracted from castor beans, for possible terrorist use.
- This episode highlights the growing interest of non-state actors in exploiting biological agents and underscores the need for strong biosecurity mechanisms.
- Moreover, rapid advancements in biotechnology have expanded human capacity to manipulate biological systems, thereby increasing the risk of misuse by malicious actors, including in the development of biological weapons
- In India, institutional responsibilities for biosecurity are distributed across multiple agencies. The Department of Biotechnology is responsible for overseeing research governance and laboratory safety norms.
- The National Centre for Disease Control plays a key role in disease surveillance and outbreak management. Biosecurity related to livestock and cross-border animal diseases is handled by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, while the Plant Quarantine Organisation of India regulates agricultural trade to prevent the entry and spread of harmful pests and diseases.
- India’s legal and regulatory framework on biosafety and biosecurity includes the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which regulates hazardous microorganisms and genetically modified organisms, and the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005, which outlaws biological weapons.
- Supporting this framework are the Biosafety Rules of 1989 and the 2017 guidelines on recombinant DNA research and biocontainment. In addition, the National Disaster Management Authority has issued comprehensive guidelines for handling biological emergencies.
- At the international level, India participates in key biosecurity-related arrangements, including the Biological Weapons Convention and the Australia Group.
- Despite the involvement of multiple institutions in managing biological risks, regulating laboratories, monitoring public health, and protecting agriculture, India is still in the process of developing a cohesive national biosecurity architecture.
- As reflected in its 66th position on the Global Health Security Index, while India has improved its capacity to detect biological threats, its preparedness to respond effectively to such risks has shown a decline.
The concept of biosecurity has evolved in response to advances in science, experiences of warfare, and emerging global health threats.
- Early Period (Pre-20th Century)
Concerns over biological harm were largely implicit, with limited regulation. Although the use of disease as a weapon was known historically, there were no formal international rules governing biological threats. - Inter-War Developments
The 1925 Geneva Protocol marked the first international effort to prohibit the use of biological and chemical weapons in warfare. However, it did not ban their development, production, or stockpiling, leaving significant regulatory gaps. - Cold War Era and the BWC (1970s)
Growing awareness of the catastrophic potential of biological weapons led to the adoption of the Biological Weapons Convention (1972, in force from 1975). It became the first multilateral treaty to comprehensively ban the development, production, acquisition, and stockpiling of biological weapons and mandate the destruction of existing arsenals. - Post-Cold War Focus on Compliance and Non-State Actors
With the rise of non-state actors and biotechnology diffusion, biosecurity norms expanded beyond state behaviour. Emphasis shifted to export controls, laboratory security, and prevention of misuse of dual-use research. Initiatives such as the Australia Group strengthened coordination on controlling sensitive biological materials. - Public Health and Biosecurity Integration (2000s)
Global disease outbreaks and bioterrorism concerns, especially after the 2001 anthrax attacks, linked biosecurity with public health preparedness. The International Health Regulations (2005) reinforced obligations for surveillance, early detection, and response to biological threats, whether natural or deliberate. - Contemporary Phase: Technology and Global Governance
Rapid advances in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence have reshaped biosecurity thinking. Current norms emphasize responsible research, ethical governance, global information sharing, and resilience against both natural pandemics and intentional biological misuse.
Institutional Framework
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Department of Biotechnology (DBT):
Regulates biotechnology research and oversees biosafety standards, laboratory governance, and compliance with guidelines related to genetically engineered organisms and recombinant DNA research. -
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC):
Responsible for disease surveillance, early warning systems, and coordination of responses to infectious disease outbreaks. -
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
Plays a central role in public health preparedness, epidemic management, and implementation of international health obligations. -
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying:
Monitors animal health, livestock biosecurity, and transboundary animal diseases that can threaten food security and public health. -
Plant Quarantine Organisation of India (PQOI):
Regulates the import and export of plants and agricultural products to prevent the introduction and spread of pests and plant diseases. -
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
Issues guidelines and coordinates preparedness and response strategies for biological disasters, including pandemics and bioterror events.
An insufficient biosecurity system poses extremely serious risks, with the potential to endanger the lives of billions of people in India. This makes it imperative to establish a comprehensive national biosecurity framework that enables effective coordination among multiple government agencies. Such a framework would also help in systematically identifying gaps in infrastructure and institutional capacity that require urgent attention.
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For Prelims: Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, SCOMET List
For Mains: Strengths and weaknesses of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), India’s national biosecurity architecture, regulation of biotechnology.
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Previous Year Questions
1.Consider the following pairs: (2020) International agreement/set-up Subject
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 4 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2, 3 and 4 only Answer (c) Mains 1.The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of terrorist funding? (2017) |
