This is my first ever attempt at a draft for the General Assembly, so please do drop some tips/corrections needed to make.
Thank you all!
International Standards for the Safe Transport of Live Biological Specimens for Research
The World Assembly,
Considering the necessity of the proper exchange of specimens between research institutions for further scientific development,
Noting the inefficiency and risks which can occur due to the improper packing, documentation and handling of specimens during international transport,
Reaffirming the right of member nations to retain control over their research policy, biosafety measures and import/export of live biological specimens,
Wishing to establish adequate standards regarding the physical transport of live biological specimens for research purposes while preserving the rights of the member nations to regulate their own research and biosafety policies,
Hereby enacts as follows:
1. For the purposes of this resolution:
a. "Live biological specimen" shall be defined as a living organism, viable tissue, viable cell culture or any other viable biological material for transport for research purposes without any commercial releases, agricultural uses or consumption by humans or animals;
b. "Research institution" shall be defined as an organization, facility or any other entity that conducts or supports research;
c. "Transport" shall be defined as the physical transportation of a live biological specimen across the border of a member nation using any means of conveyance.
2. Member nations should ensure that the live biological specimens transported for research purposes are properly contained in order to avoid release, leakage or contamination during transport which includes:
a. Primary containment of the live biological specimen which prevents its leakage or escape;
b. Secondary containment which ensures protection of the primary containment from any foreseeable damages during transport;
c. External labelling indicating that the live biological specimens are transported for research purposes along with the specific instructions for temperature, orientation or handling;
d. Contact information of a person or research institution who is able to provide information regarding the shipment in case of an incident.
3. Member nations should label each live biological specimen shipment for research with documentation that includes:
a. Description of the live biological specimen and its research purpose;
b. Contact information of the sending and receiving research institutions;
c. Known hazards of the live biological specimen, including its pathogenicity, toxicity or invasive potential in case of relevance;
d. Permits and authorizations that are necessary under the laws of the sending or receiving member nation.
4. Member nations should be allowed to introduce additional requirements for packaging, labeling, handling or documentation if such measures are necessary to address the potential risks to public health, animal health, environment, biosafety, biosecurity or national security.
5. Additional requirements introduced under Clause 4 should:
a. Be proportional to the risk being addressed;
b. Be applicable only until the risk exists;
c. Not discriminate against research shipments.
6. This resolution does not require:
a. A member nation to permit the import or export of a biological specimen;
b. Any regulation of research conducted within the borders of the member nation;
c. Approval of research conducted with the help of the specific live biological specimen;
d. Prohibiting a member nation from refusing the entry of the shipment due to legitimate concerns about public health, animal health, environment, biosafety, biosecurity or national security;
e. The establishment of the duty to finance or subsidize any transport or research of biological specimens.
7. Member nations should designate an authority or authorities to answer inquiries regarding the requirements established by this resolution and provide the information regarding them and any additional national requirements.
8. This resolution does not compel a member nation to disclose any other legally protected research information if the law prohibits disclosure of such information or such disclosure might harm public health, animal health, environment, biosafety, biosecurity or national security.
This resolution takes effect upon adoption.
The World Assembly,
Considering the necessity of the proper exchange of specimens between research institutions for further scientific development,
Noting the inefficiency and risks which can occur due to the improper packing, documentation and handling of specimens during international transport,
Reaffirming the right of member nations to retain control over their research policy, biosafety measures and import/export of live biological specimens,
Wishing to establish adequate standards regarding the physical transport of live biological specimens for research purposes while preserving the rights of the member nations to regulate their own research and biosafety policies,
Hereby enacts as follows:
1. For the purposes of this resolution:
a. "Live biological specimen" shall be defined as a living organism, viable tissue, viable cell culture or any other viable biological material for transport for research purposes without any commercial releases, agricultural uses or consumption by humans or animals;
b. "Research institution" shall be defined as an organization, facility or any other entity that conducts or supports research;
c. "Transport" shall be defined as the physical transportation of a live biological specimen across the border of a member nation using any means of conveyance.
2. Member nations should ensure that the live biological specimens transported for research purposes are properly contained in order to avoid release, leakage or contamination during transport which includes:
a. Primary containment of the live biological specimen which prevents its leakage or escape;
b. Secondary containment which ensures protection of the primary containment from any foreseeable damages during transport;
c. External labelling indicating that the live biological specimens are transported for research purposes along with the specific instructions for temperature, orientation or handling;
d. Contact information of a person or research institution who is able to provide information regarding the shipment in case of an incident.
3. Member nations should label each live biological specimen shipment for research with documentation that includes:
a. Description of the live biological specimen and its research purpose;
b. Contact information of the sending and receiving research institutions;
c. Known hazards of the live biological specimen, including its pathogenicity, toxicity or invasive potential in case of relevance;
d. Permits and authorizations that are necessary under the laws of the sending or receiving member nation.
4. Member nations should be allowed to introduce additional requirements for packaging, labeling, handling or documentation if such measures are necessary to address the potential risks to public health, animal health, environment, biosafety, biosecurity or national security.
5. Additional requirements introduced under Clause 4 should:
a. Be proportional to the risk being addressed;
b. Be applicable only until the risk exists;
c. Not discriminate against research shipments.
6. This resolution does not require:
a. A member nation to permit the import or export of a biological specimen;
b. Any regulation of research conducted within the borders of the member nation;
c. Approval of research conducted with the help of the specific live biological specimen;
d. Prohibiting a member nation from refusing the entry of the shipment due to legitimate concerns about public health, animal health, environment, biosafety, biosecurity or national security;
e. The establishment of the duty to finance or subsidize any transport or research of biological specimens.
7. Member nations should designate an authority or authorities to answer inquiries regarding the requirements established by this resolution and provide the information regarding them and any additional national requirements.
8. This resolution does not compel a member nation to disclose any other legally protected research information if the law prohibits disclosure of such information or such disclosure might harm public health, animal health, environment, biosafety, biosecurity or national security.
This resolution takes effect upon adoption.
International Standards for the Safe Transport of Live Biological Specimens for Research
The World Assembly,
Being of the opinion that the exchange of live biological specimens between research institutions can result in substantial scientific benefits;
Recognising that inappropriate packaging documentation or handling can cause shipment delays specimen loss and biosafety incidents;
Acknowledging the authority of member nations over domestic research biosafety and the import and export of biological specimens;
Desiring to establish minimum international standards for the safe transport of live biological specimens for research;
Hereby enacts as follows:
1. Definitions
For the purposes of this resolution:
a. Live biological specimen refers to a live organism viable tissue cell culture or other viable biological material that is transported for research purposes excluding material intended for commercial release agricultural use or human or animal consumption;
b. Research institution refers to any organisation or entity engaged in or supporting research.
2. Containment and labelling
Member nations shall require that live biological specimens used for research:
a. Be contained within primary containment that prevents leakage or release under reasonably foreseeable transport conditions;
b. Be contained within secondary containment that is sufficient to protect the primary containment from reasonably foreseeable damage;
c. Be labelled to indicate the nature of the specimen and any special temperature orientation or handling requirements and;
d. Have contact information for a responsible person or the sending research institution in the case of an incident.
3. Documentation
Member nations shall require documents accompanying specimens transported for research to include:
a. A description of the specimen and its intended research purpose;
b. Contact information for the sending and receiving research institutions;
c. Information about any known hazards including pathogenicity toxicity or invasive potential where applicable; and
d. Any import or export permits required by the relevant member nations.
4. Additional protections
Member nations may additionally impose requirements for packaging labelling handling or documentation should it be necessary and proportionate to the risks posed by transport to public health animal health environments biosafety biosecurity or national security. Such requirements shall not unreasonably distinguish between research shipments.
5. National authority
Nothing in this resolution shall compel a member nation to allow the import or export of any specimen authorise research using a specimen or regulate research within its territory.
6. Funding
Nothing in this resolution shall require a member nation to fund or subsidise the transport of specimens or the research for which they are intended.
7. Information authority
Each member nation shall designate an authority to accept enquiries concerning this resolution and applicable national requirements.
8. Protected information
Nothing in this resolution shall compel the disclosure of information protected by law or information that would pose a risk to public health animal health environments biosafety biosecurity or national security.
The World Assembly,
Being of the opinion that the exchange of live biological specimens between research institutions can result in substantial scientific benefits;
Recognising that inappropriate packaging documentation or handling can cause shipment delays specimen loss and biosafety incidents;
Acknowledging the authority of member nations over domestic research biosafety and the import and export of biological specimens;
Desiring to establish minimum international standards for the safe transport of live biological specimens for research;
Hereby enacts as follows:
1. Definitions
For the purposes of this resolution:
a. Live biological specimen refers to a live organism viable tissue cell culture or other viable biological material that is transported for research purposes excluding material intended for commercial release agricultural use or human or animal consumption;
b. Research institution refers to any organisation or entity engaged in or supporting research.
2. Containment and labelling
Member nations shall require that live biological specimens used for research:
a. Be contained within primary containment that prevents leakage or release under reasonably foreseeable transport conditions;
b. Be contained within secondary containment that is sufficient to protect the primary containment from reasonably foreseeable damage;
c. Be labelled to indicate the nature of the specimen and any special temperature orientation or handling requirements and;
d. Have contact information for a responsible person or the sending research institution in the case of an incident.
3. Documentation
Member nations shall require documents accompanying specimens transported for research to include:
a. A description of the specimen and its intended research purpose;
b. Contact information for the sending and receiving research institutions;
c. Information about any known hazards including pathogenicity toxicity or invasive potential where applicable; and
d. Any import or export permits required by the relevant member nations.
4. Additional protections
Member nations may additionally impose requirements for packaging labelling handling or documentation should it be necessary and proportionate to the risks posed by transport to public health animal health environments biosafety biosecurity or national security. Such requirements shall not unreasonably distinguish between research shipments.
5. National authority
Nothing in this resolution shall compel a member nation to allow the import or export of any specimen authorise research using a specimen or regulate research within its territory.
6. Funding
Nothing in this resolution shall require a member nation to fund or subsidise the transport of specimens or the research for which they are intended.
7. Information authority
Each member nation shall designate an authority to accept enquiries concerning this resolution and applicable national requirements.
8. Protected information
Nothing in this resolution shall compel the disclosure of information protected by law or information that would pose a risk to public health animal health environments biosafety biosecurity or national security.
International Standards for the Safe Transport of Live Biological Specimens for Research
The World Assembly,
Being of the opinion that the exchange of live biological specimens between research institutions can yield significant scientific benefits;
Recognising that inappropriate packaging, documentation or handling causes shipment delays, specimen loss and biosafety incidents;
Acknowledging the authority of member nations over domestic research, biosafety and the import and export of biological specimens;
Desiring to establish minimum international standards for the safe transport of live biological specimens for research;
Hereby enacts as follows:
1. Definitions
For the purposes of this resolution:
a. Live biological specimen refers to any live organism, viable tissue, cell culture or other viable biological material which is being transported for research purposes without intent for commercial release, agricultural use or human or animal consumption;
b. Research institution refers to any organisation or entity which engage in or support research;
2. Containment and labelling
Member nation shall require that live biological specimens used for research:
a. Be contained within primary containment which prevents leakage or release under reasonably foreseeable transport conditions;
b. Be contained within secondary containment which is sufficiently protective of primary containment against reasonably foreseeable damage;
c. Be labelled to indicate the nature of the specimen and any special temperature, orientation or handling requirements.
3. Documentation
Member nations shall require documents accompanying specimens being transported for research to include:
a. A description of the specimen, and the use intended for research;
b. Contact details for the sender and receiver research institution;
c. Information on any known hazards such pathogenicity, toxicity or invasive potential if applicable; and
d. Any import or export permits as required by the applicable member nations.
4. Additional protections
Member nation may impose additional requirements on packaging, labelling, handling, documentation or may otherwise modify provisions of this resolution where necessary and proportionate to the risks presented by the transport of such specimen to public health, environmental health, biosafety, biosecurity or national security. Additional requirements shall not unreasonably differentiate between research shipments.
5. National authority
Nothing in this resolution shall compel a member nation to permit the import or export of any specimen, to authorise research using a specimen or to regulate research within its territory.
6. Funding
Nothing in this resolution shall require a member nation to fund or subsidize transport of specimens or the research they are intended for.
7. Information authority
Each member nation shall designate an authority to receive enquiry regarding this resolution and any applicable national requirements.
8. Protected information
Nothing in this resolution shall compel the giving of information protected by law or information that could pose a risk to public health, environmental health, biosafety, biosecurity or national security.
The World Assembly,
Being of the opinion that the exchange of live biological specimens between research institutions can yield significant scientific benefits;
Recognising that inappropriate packaging, documentation or handling causes shipment delays, specimen loss and biosafety incidents;
Acknowledging the authority of member nations over domestic research, biosafety and the import and export of biological specimens;
Desiring to establish minimum international standards for the safe transport of live biological specimens for research;
Hereby enacts as follows:
1. Definitions
For the purposes of this resolution:
a. Live biological specimen refers to any live organism, viable tissue, cell culture or other viable biological material which is being transported for research purposes without intent for commercial release, agricultural use or human or animal consumption;
b. Research institution refers to any organisation or entity which engage in or support research;
2. Containment and labelling
Member nation shall require that live biological specimens used for research:
a. Be contained within primary containment which prevents leakage or release under reasonably foreseeable transport conditions;
b. Be contained within secondary containment which is sufficiently protective of primary containment against reasonably foreseeable damage;
c. Be labelled to indicate the nature of the specimen and any special temperature, orientation or handling requirements.
3. Documentation
Member nations shall require documents accompanying specimens being transported for research to include:
a. A description of the specimen, and the use intended for research;
b. Contact details for the sender and receiver research institution;
c. Information on any known hazards such pathogenicity, toxicity or invasive potential if applicable; and
d. Any import or export permits as required by the applicable member nations.
4. Additional protections
Member nation may impose additional requirements on packaging, labelling, handling, documentation or may otherwise modify provisions of this resolution where necessary and proportionate to the risks presented by the transport of such specimen to public health, environmental health, biosafety, biosecurity or national security. Additional requirements shall not unreasonably differentiate between research shipments.
5. National authority
Nothing in this resolution shall compel a member nation to permit the import or export of any specimen, to authorise research using a specimen or to regulate research within its territory.
6. Funding
Nothing in this resolution shall require a member nation to fund or subsidize transport of specimens or the research they are intended for.
7. Information authority
Each member nation shall designate an authority to receive enquiry regarding this resolution and any applicable national requirements.
8. Protected information
Nothing in this resolution shall compel the giving of information protected by law or information that could pose a risk to public health, environmental health, biosafety, biosecurity or national security.
? What is this? A not horrible proposal, by a new author? Praise the Lord!
! I have edited and published Draft 2.