Events prior to 2005
For events in 2005 and beyond, please click here. For events happening now, please click here.
2004
Second Intercessional Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction - often referred to as the Biological Weapons Convention - BWC
Date: 6 - 10 December, 2004
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: State Parties to the BWC
Description: This was the second intercessional meeting of states of parties to the BWC. At the Conference, States discussed ways of strengthening the BWC. Top
5th Meeting of the Global Health Security Action Group
Date: December 2004
Location: Paris, France
Participant(s): Ministers/Secretaries/Commissioner of Health and senior health officials from
the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Mexico,
the European Union and the World Health Organization.
Description: This annual meeting is held to coordinate public health activities throughout the world. Top
“Promoting Responsible Stewardship in the Biosciences:
Avoiding Potential Abuse of Research and Resources”
Date: 17 -19 November, 2004
Location: Frascati, Italy
Participants: OECD International Futures Programme and guests
Description: In September 2004, 55 participants selected from government, academia, industry,
public research organizations, scientific societies, and the science publishing
field gathered in Frascati, Italy for three days to discuss the promotion of
responsible stewardship in the biosciences and means of avoiding the potential
abuse of research and resources. Top
Biological Weapons: Coping with the Current Threats
Date: 12 November, 2004
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Participants: Simons Centre for Disarmament and Non-proliferation Research and Guests
Description: This conference brought together experts to discuss the threats posed by biological weapons and the dual use dilemma posed by biotechnology research. Top
New Defence Agenda (NDA) 2nd Experts' Meeting on Bioterrorism
Date: 18 October, 2004
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participants: NDA's Bioterrorism Reporting Group
Description: NDA convened its second Bioterrorism Report Group meeting on the subject "Countering Bioterrorism: Science, Technology and Oversight." Top
Do No Harm: reducing the Potential for Misuse of Life Sciences research (Joint Royal Society - Wellcome Trust Conference)
Date: 7 October, 2004
Location: Royal Society, London, UK
Participants: Life Scientists, Policy Makers and Interested Parties
Description: This meeting was convened in response to the increased Concern of scientific misuse following the 2001 Anthrax attacks in the US and as a prelude to the 2005 BWC experts meeting which will be chaired by the UK and focus on codes of conduct for scientists. Top
Biosafety and Biosecurity Workshop for the Central Asian and Caucasus Regions
Date: 20 - 21 September, 2004
Location: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Participants: The International Science and Technology Center and guests
Description: This meeting was held to provide biological nonproliferation training to
government officials and public health workers of the Central Asian and Caucasus regions. Top
Second Intercessional Meeting of Experts of Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction - Often referred to as the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)
Date: 19 - 30 July, 2004
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: State Parties to the BWC, UN, Specialized Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations and Guests
Description: This was the second intercessional experts' meeting prior to the 6th BWC Review Conference (to be held in 2006). It focused on strengthening biological weapons surveillance systems and enhancing international capabilities for responding to the alleged use of biological weapons.Top
New Defence Agenda (NDA) First Experts' Meeting on Bioterrorism
Date: 21 June, 2004
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participants: NDA's Bioterrorism Reporting Group
Description: "Prevention and Protection". This also served as a brainstorming session to guide further discussion by the Reporting Group. Top
Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity: ICRC outreach to the life science community on preventing hostile use of the life sciences
Date: 7 May, 2004
Location: London, UK
Participants: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the British Red Cross
Description: This one day roundtable brought together representatives of the British life sciences community in order to promote cross-sectoral engagement on the issues raised by the ICRC in regards to misuse of life science research. Top
United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540
Date: 28 April, 2004
Location: New York, NY, USA
Participants: UN Security Council
Description: This UNSCR attempts to prevent individuals, organisations and terrorist groups from obtaining or spreading nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as well as their means of delivery. Top
Roundtable on Biosecurity
Date: 19 April, 2004
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participants: The United Nations Foundation, the National Academies, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, & guests.
Description: At this experts' roundtable, participants explored the role of the United Nations in responding to biological threats to international security – both the natural hazards of emerging and reemerging microbial threats to health and the risk that states or terrorists would deliberately use disease as a weapon. Experts discussed the approaches that the UN has taken and could take to address these closely interrelated threats. Key ideas from the papers commissioned for this roundtable are used to inform the High-Level Panel. Top
Creation of the US National Science Advisory Board
Date: 4 March, 2004
Location: NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
Participants: Up to 25 voting members along with non-voting members from the 15 US federal agencies and departments
Description: In response to the US National Academy of Sciences report entitled "Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism," the NSABB was established by the US Government to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Director of National Institutes of Health and the heads of all other government agencies supporting or conducting life science research. Top
International Symposium: "Securing High Consequence Pathogens and Toxins"
Date: 1 - 6 February, 2004
Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA
Participants: Over 60 bioscience and policy experts from 14 countries
Description: Sandia National Laboratories, a United States Department of Energy technical organization, conducted this international biosecurity symposium. It focused on approaches to secure high consequence pathogens and toxins, located in bioscience facilities worldwide, from possible theft or diversion. The symposium addressed the need to balance security with microbiological research, and identified areas for international cooperation.Top
Conference on the ethical implications of scientific research
on bioweapons and prevention of
bioterrorism
Date: 3-4 February, 2004
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participants: European Commission, DG Research, Directorate for “Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food
Research” & Guests
Description: The Conference brought
together a multidisciplinary group of experts to discuss the ethical
implications of scientific research on bioweapons and prevention of
bioterrorism including issues such as risk communication, dual use
technologies and protection of human subjects involved in biodefence
research. Top
Publication of "Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism" (aka "The Fink Report"
Date: 2004
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participants: Gerald R. Fink et al.
Description: This influential report lays out a strategy to maintain security of sensitive biological information without hindering cooperative research and development. Top
2003
Libya abandons its WMD program
Date: 19 December, 2003
Location: Libya
Participants: The Libyan Government
Description: After years of denying its suspected WMD program, the Libyan government admitted it had continuously attempted to develop WMD, agreed to halt weapons development and cooperate with international inspectors to dismantle WMD facilities. Top
World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology
Third session of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST)
Date: 1 - 4 December, 2003
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Participants: COMEST and guests
Description: This COMEST session focused for the first time on
new themes such as the ethics of nanotechnology,
ethics education, and an oath and a code of conduct
for scientists. Top
4th Meeting of the Global Health Security Action Group
Date: November 2003
Location: Berlin, Germany
Participant(s): Ministers/Secretaries/Commissioner of Health and senior health officials from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Mexico, the European Union and the World Health Organization.
Description: This annual meeting is held to coordinate public health activities throughout the world. Top
First meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of bacterial (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC)
Date: 10 - 14 November, 2003
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: State parties to the BWC, UN, Specialized Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations and Guests
Description: This was the second intercessional meeting of states of parties to the BWC. At the Conference, States discussed ways of strengthening the BWC. Top
First Intercessional Meeting of Experts of Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC)
Date: 10 - 14 November, 2003
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: State parties to the BWC, UN, Specialized Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations and Guests
Description: This was the first intercessional experts' meeting prior to the 6th BWC Review Conference (to be held in 2006). It focused on the adoption of national implementation measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the BWC and the security and oversight of pathogens by parties to the BWC. Top
National Security & Biological Research: What are the Boundaries?
Date: 11 November, 2003
Location: New York Academy of Sciences, NY, USA
Participants: Experts from the scientific, institutional, academic and government sectors
Description: At this conference, experts debated the changing relationships between science and law enforcement,
and speakers discussed major initiatives to preserve scientific integrity while
maintaining security interests. Top
20th Pugwash Workshop Study Group on the
Implementation of the CBW Conventions:
The BWC Intercessional Process towards the Sixth Review Conference and Beyond
Date: 8 - 9 November, 2003
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: The Harvard Sussex Program, Swiss Pugwash Group, and guests
Description: This workshop focused on the 5th BWC review conference and discussed codes of conduct that would function to increase awareness among biologists, chemists, and geneticist of the possibility of misuse of their research for the production or delivery of chemical or biological weapons. Top
Pugwash Workshop on Science, Ethics and Society
Date: 27 - 29 June, 2003
Location: Paris, France
Participants: Pugwash and guests
Description: This workshop discussed the ethical responsibilities of scientists in the modern world.Top
Statement on scientific publication and security from editors
Date: February 2003
Location: Science, Nature and PNAS
Participants: Over 30 editors of major life sciences journals
Description: A joint statement by the editors of numerous life sciences journals recognized the necessity of open scientific publication for peer and public review as well as the possibility for misuse. They therefore charged the science and publishing community with regulating the way in which results are disseminated in order to allow review while not putting society at risk. Top
Arrests in the UK in connection with a proposed Ricin attack
Date: 11 January, 2003
Location: UK
Participants: Possible Al-Qaeda Operatives
Description: British authorities arrest 23 people and seize equipment in connection with a proposed Ricin attack in the UK. Though Ricin is considered a chemical, this incident underscores the fact that terrorist groups wish to possess such weapons for use against civilians. Top
Scientific Openness and National Security Conference
Date: 9 January, 2003
Location: NAS, Washington DC, USA
Participants: Experts from the scientific, institutional, academic and government sectors
Description: The one day conference, sponsored by NAS and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, focused on the dissemination of scientific results in the post September 11th landscape. Top
2002
3rd Meeting of the Global Health Security Action Group
Date: December 2002
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Participant(s): Ministers/Secretaries/Commissioner of Health and senior health officials from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Mexico, the European Union and the World Health Organization.
Description: This annual meeting is held to coordinate public health activities throughout the world. Top
Fifth Review Conference (2nd of 2 sessions, first session held on 19 November - 7 December, 2001) of Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC)
Date: 11 - 22 November, 2002
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: State Parties of the BWC
Description: During this review a draft text of an international protocol for BWC verification was produced. It was eventually rejected, but other proposals for strengthening the BWC were issued. In order to discuss implementation of these proposals, it was decided that an intercessional expert's meeting would occur every year for the 3 years prior to the 6th BWC Review Conference (to be held in 2006). Top
Preventing the Misuse of Biotechnology
Date: 15 November, 2002
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participants: The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Description: This conference examined the differences between the tools needed to combat biological weapons proliferation and more conventional nonproliferation endeavors because of the biotechnology's dual use nature. The conference concluded that, "neither traditional national security nor typical arms control methods are appropriate because the relevant material, equipment, information, and expertise are globally distributed in legitimate research institutions, commercial enterprises, and government bio-defense programs." The panel therefore explored alternative strategies such as self-governance, cooperative security, and criminalization for preventing the misuse of biotechnology without impeding beneficial research. Top
18th Workshop of the Pugwash Study Group on the
Implementation of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions:
The Resumption of the Fifth BWC Review Conference 2002 and Beyond
Date: 9 -10 November, 2002
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: The Harvard Sussex Program, Swiss Pugwash Group, and guests
Description: This workshop focused on the 5th BWC review conference and discussed codes of conduct that would function to increase awareness among biologists, chemists, and geneticist of the possibility of misuse of their research for the production or delivery of chemical or biological weapons. Top
Joint Statement from the President of the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the UK Royal Society
Date: 8 November, 2002
Location: Science Magazine
Participants: Lord May (President of the Royal Society) and Bruce Alberts (President of NAS)
Description: A joint editorial appeared in the 8 November issue of the US publication Science by the presidents of The Royal Society and the NAS, titled "Scientist support for Biological Weapons Controls". It called for scientists to work with policy makers in order to make progress towards measures that would counteract the threat from advances in weapons technology that could be misused by governments or terrorist threat agents. Top
Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity
Date: 23 -24 September, 2002
Location: Montreux, Switzerland
Participants: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and guests
Description: This ICRC meeting brought together experts to discuss
concerns related to the fields of biotechnology, biological weapons, and social responsibility.
During the meeting a draft Declaration on Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity was presented to governments proposing a range of measures which could reduce the potential for biotechnology to be put to hostile uses. Top
Introduction of US House Resolution 514
Date: 26 July, 2002
Location: US House of Representatives, Washington DC, USA
Participants: Dave Weldon and seven other US Congressmen
Description: Created in response to the publication of a report showing how the polio virus had been recreated synthetically, the resolution calls for the scientific community to ensure that information that may be used by terrorists is not made widely available. Top
Publication of "Chemical Synthesis of Poliovirus cDNA: Generation of Infectious Virus in the Absence of Natural Template"
Date: 11 July, 2002
Location: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY, USA
Participants: J. Cello, AV Paul and E. Wimmer
Description: This publication described the creation in a laboratory of the polio virus from the natural chemical template. This sparked public concern that viruses could be produced and sold as weapons to terrorist groups. The publication spurred US House Resolution 514 which criticized the publication of the work. Top
Publication of "Variola Virus Immune Evasion Design : Expression of a Highly Efficient Inhibitor of Human Complement"
Date: 25 June, 2002
Location: Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS)
Participants: Ariella M. Rosengard, Yu Liu, Zhiping Nie and Robert Jiminez
Description: The publication presented research on how to take the vaccine for the variola virus which causes smallpox, and increase its virulence making it potentially lethal. This publication was viewed as very controversial because some argue that it gives information on how to convert an easily available and beneficial substance into a dangerous virus. Top
2nd Meeting of the Global Health Security Action Group
Date: March 2002
Location: London, UK
Participant(s): Ministers/Secretaries/Commissioner of Health and senior health officials from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Mexico, the European Union and the World Health Organization.
Description: This annual meeting is held to coordinate public health activities throughout the world. Top
2001
1st Meeting of the Global Health Security Action Group
Date: November 2001
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Participant(s): Ministers/Secretaries/Commissioner of Health and senior health officials from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Mexico, the European Union and the World Health Organization.
Description: This annual meeting is held to coordinate public health activities throughout the world. Top
Fifth Review Conference (first of 2 sessions) of Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction
Date: 19 November - 7 December, 2001
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: State Parties to the BWC
Description: Draft text of an international protocol for Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) verification is rejected by the US. The US delegation makes proposals to strengthen the BWC and proposes intercessional meetings of states and experts in each of the following three years. Top
16th Workshop of the Pugwash Study Group on the
Implementation of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions:
The Fifth BTWC Review Conference
Date: 24 - 25 November, 2001
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: The Swiss Pugwash Group and guests
Description: This workshop focused on the 5th BWC review conference and discussed codes of conduct that would function to increase awareness among biologists, chemists, and geneticist of the possibility of misuse of their research for the production or delivery of chemical or biological weapons. Top
Passage of the UK "Anti-terrorism Crime and Security Act"
Date: 12 November, 2001
Location: London, UK
Participants: UK Parliament
Description: Through this piece of legislation the UK placed new legal obligations on the scientific community to ensure that their technologies are not misused or misappropriated. Top
Passage of the US Patriot Act
Date: 24 October, 2001
Location: Washington DC, USA
Participants: US Congress
Description: Developed in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US, the Patriot Act aims to protect the US against further terrorist attacks. This is one of the most extensive pieces of anti-terror legislation in the world and has been used as a template for proposed anti-terror legislation in many countries. In terms of biological threats, the Patriot Act improves the protection of "select" agents and toxins and places restrictions on access to select agents for aliens from countries seen as supporting terror. Top
Weaponized Anthrax mailed within the US
Date: 18 September 2001
Location: New York, NY, Boca Raton, FL and Washington DC, USA
Participants: Unknown
Description: On 18 September 2001, five letters were sent to media outlets containing the anthrax virus. On 9 October, 2001 two more letters containing the virus were mailed to two democratic US Senators : Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Some reports described the material in the Senate letters as "weapons grade" anthrax. Overall, twenty-two people developed anthrax infections, eleven of the life-threatening variety, and five died of inhalation anthrax. The perpetrator of these attacks is still at large. Top
Publication of "Expression of Mouse Interleukin-4 by a Recombinant Ectromelia Virus Suppresses Cytolytic Lymphocyte Responses and Overcomes Genetic Resistance to Mousepox"
Date: February, 2001
Location: Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Participants: Ronald J. Jackson, Alistair J. Ramsey, Carina D. Christensen, Sandra Beaton, Diana F. Hall and Ian A. Ramshaw
Description: While researching a strain of "mousepox" intended to eradicate mice in Australia, researchers made an unexpected discovery that an engineered version of the "mousepox" virus was potentially lethal to even those mice that had been immunized against the original strand. This publication was met by harsh criticism by some in the political and security communities for its potential application in bioterrorist attacks. Top
1999
UNESCO - World Conference on Science
Date: 26 June - 1 July, 1999
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Participants: UNESCO, ICSU, and guests
Description: At this conference participants analyzed current and future issues for the natural sciences in regards to societal obligations.The discussion led to a new ‘social contract’ for science in the form of a "Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge." Top
1996
Fourth Review Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacterial (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC)
Date: 25 November - 6 December 1996
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: State Parties to the BWC
Description: State Parties to the BWC gathered to reaffirm their commitment to the BWC and discuss ways to improve its effectiveness. Top
Creation of the "Select Agent" List
Date: 24 April, 1996
Location: Washington DC, USA
Participants: US Congress
Description: Passage of the US "Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act" directed the US Department of Health and Human Services to create a list (known as the select agent list) that names biological agents that could pose a severe threat to public health and safety, and to regulate the transfer of such agents while maintaining the availability of these agents for research, education and other legitimate purposes. Top
1995
Arrest for possession of plague causing bacteria
Date: May 1995
Location: Ohio, USA
Participants: Larry Wayne Harris
Description: A microbiologist with ties to the Aryan Nation and other anti-establishment groups was arrested with vials containing plague causing bacteria that he had ordered from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Later released, Harris was arrested again in 1998 when authorities were tipped off that he may be intending on releasing anthrax in the New York City subway system : it turned out that he merely possessed an anthrax vaccine. Top
Sarin Gas Attack on the Tokyo Subway
Date: 20 March, 1995
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Participants: AUM Shinrikyo
Description: AUM Shinrikyo, a radical Japanese religious group, released Sarin gas into the Tokyo metro. Considered a domestic terror event, the attack killed 12 people and injured approximately 6000. Though this was a chemical attack, it underscores the danger from and the panic caused by these types of attacks. Top
1993
Aum Shinrikyo attempts biological weapons attacks in Tokyo
Date: June - August 1993
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Participants: Aum Shinrikyo
Description: In three separate incidents, members of the Japanese Aum Shinrikyo cult attempted to use toxins to attack Japanese government installations. The attacks failed because of technical difficulties regarding dissemination or because the group had failed to obtain a virulent toxin. Top
1992
UK issues Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Regulations
Date: 21 December, 1992
Location: London, UK
Participants: UK Parliament
Description:The UK issues guidelines that require all research activity on GMOs to be registered and comply with governmental regulations for safety and security. These guidelines have been revised numerous times since their inception. Top
Russia acknowledges clandestine biological weapons programme
Date: 27 May, 1992
Location: Moscow, Russia
Participants: Russian President Boris Yeltsin
Description: In an interview with Russian president Boris Yeltsin, the Russian leader admitted that Russia had maintained a major clandestine biological weapons programme despite being an original signatory to the 1975 BWC. Later in the year, Russia committed to abiding by its obligations under the BWC and opened its facilities for international inspection. Top
1991
Third Review Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of bacterial (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC)
Date: 9 - 27 September, 1991
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: State parties to the BWC
Description: State parties to the BWC gathered to reaffirm their commitment to the BWC and discuss ways to improve its effectiveness. Top
1990
Aum Shinrikyo attempts botulinum attack
Date: April 1990
Location: Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, & Narita, Japan
Participants: Aum Shinrikyo
Description: Members of the Japanese Aum Shinrikyo cult sprayed what they thought was botulinum toxin from trucks as they drove past US military and Japanese government installations. The attacks failed because the group had failed to isolate the toxin properly from the contaminated soil sample which they had used. Top
1986
Second Review Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of bacterial (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC)
Date: 8 - 26 September, 1986
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: State parties to the BWC
Description: State parties to the BWC gathered to reaffirm their commitment to the BWC and discuss ways to improve its effectiveness. Top
1985
Formation of The Australia Group
Date: June 1985
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Participants: 38 States and the European Commission
Description: Following the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in the early 1980's, the need to control the export of potentially dangerous technologies to eliminate further misuse was realized. At that time, the Australia Group was formed to harmonize international export controls of technologies sensitive to the production of chemical weapons. Beginning in 1990, the Australia Group also focused on controlling technologies that could be used for biological weapons programmes. Top
US National Security Decision Directive 189
Date: 21 September, 1985
Location: Washington DC, USA
Participants: US Federal Government
Description: The Directive made the official US policy towards science that the results of fundamental research should be unrestricted to the maximum extent possible. Top
1984
Salmonella attacks
Date: 1984
Location: The Dalles, Oregon, USA
Participants: Rajneesh sect
Description: The Rajneesh sect contaminated 10 salad bars in The Dalles, Oregon with Salmonella in an apparent attempt to influence local elections. Approximately 750 contracted salmonellosis, 45 of which required hospitalization. Top
1982
Publication of "Scientific Communication and National Security," (aka "The Corson Report")
Date: October, 1982
Location: Washington DC, USA
Participants: National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering & Institute of Medicine
Description: Stated that the "Free communication among scientists is viewed as an essential factor in scientific advance." The report did not, however, deal with the life sciences. Top
1980
First Review Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of bacterial (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC)
Date: 3 - 21 March, 1980
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: State Parties to the BWC
Description: State parties to the BWC gathered to reaffirm their commitment to the BWC and discuss ways to improve its effectiveness. Top
1976
US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Publish "Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules"
Date: June, 1976
Location: NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
Participants: US NIH
Description: The guidelines specified laboratory practices, containment equipment and facility safeguards that were thought to be appropriate for work involving recombinant DNA (rDNA) molecules. These guidelines have been revised numerous times since inception. Top
1975
The Asilomar Conference
Date: February, 1975
Location: Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
Participants: 150 Scientists from 13 countries along with attorneys, government officials and members of the press
Description: In 1973 after the successful attempt to recombine DNA from one organism with that of another, a group of scientists called for a self-imposed moratorium on certain types of recombinant DNA experiments due to potential, though unproven, risks. Despite no evidence of harm, many scientists complied with the ban and research in the area stagnated. In 1975, a conference at the Asilomar Conference Center was charged to determine whether or not to lift the moratorium and if so to set up strict guidelines under which research could continue safely. Ultimately, the conference produced a set of voluntary guidelines monitoring recombinant DNA experiments. Top
Entry into Force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of bacterial (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC)
Date: 26 March, 1975
Location: Moscow, Russia, Washington DC, USA and London, UK
Participants: 151 States
Description: The BWC adds to the 1925 Geneva Protocol by not only forbidding the use of biological weapons in warfare, but also forbidding their production, development or stockpiling. The treaty does allow for research and development of biological weapons to occur for "justifiable" reasons, such as defence, however, it has no verification or control mechanism to prevent misuse. Top
1969
Passage of the UK Biological Weapons Act
Date: 25 November, 1969
Location: London, UK
Participants: UK Parliament
Description: This legislation served to implement the BWC into the UK Legislative system prior to its entry into force. It placed obligations on all of its citizens, "never in any circumstance to develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain : microbial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes." Top
US National Security Decision Memorandum 35
Date: 25 November, 1969
Location: Washington DC, USA
Participants: US Federal Government
Description: Under President Nixon, the United States renounced the "use of lethal methods of bacteriological/biological warfare." Top
1928
Entry into Force of the 1925 Geneva Protocol/Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gasses, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare
Date: 8 February, 1928
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Participants: 132 States
Description: The 1925 Geneva Protocol was a response to the extensive use of poisonous gas during the First World Was. It expressly forbids the further use of such weapons. Top
