Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002; Biennial Review and Republication of the Select Agent and Toxin List; Reorganization of the Select Agent and Toxin List

Resumen

In accordance with the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002, we are soliciting public comment regarding the list of select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products. The Act requires the biennial review and republication of the list of select agents and toxins and the revision of the list as necessary. Accordingly, we are soliciting public comment on the current list of select agents and toxins in our regulations and suggestions regarding any addition or reduction of the animal or plant pathogens currently on the list of select agents. In addition, we are soliciting public comment on the potential reorganization of the list of select agents and toxins based on the relative potential of each select agent or toxin to be misused to adversely affect human, plant or animal health. Such tiering of the list could allow for the application of different security measures for those select agents or toxins which pose a higher risk to animal or plant health if they were to be stolen or otherwise misused.