Publication

This report authored by US biotechnology and pharmaceutical experts calls on the US government to rework the proposals to strengthen the international regime against biological weapons. The industry experts argue that the Bush administration's proposals could produce actions that are fragmented, weak and contradictory to the desired goal of thwarting terrorists and governments from acquiring offensive biological weapons capabilities. The experts petition for the establishment of universal minimum standards for biosafety, biosecurity and oversight of genetically-modified research, underpinned by penalties for noncompliance.