National Biosecurity Committee Holds Second Meeting For 2019

Members discuss updating National Biosecurity Strategy

The National Biosecurity Committee held its second meeting for 2019 to review the preparations for the UAE's Fourth Biosecurity Conference, that will engage the youth in discussions on biosecurity and the use of AI as a tool to boost biosecurity in the UAE. His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, presided over the meeting.

Scheduled to take place in Dubai from October 28 to 29, 2019, under the theme 'Sustainable Biosecurity', the conference aims to accelerate efforts to achieve the objectives of the National Biosecurity Strategy and build an integrated biosecurity system that contributes to strengthening the National Security System. The conference will draw the participation of international and local biosecurity experts, organizations, and universities.

His Excellency Dr Al Zeyoudi said: "The regular meetings of the c ommittee play a key role in implementing the National Biosecurity Strategy, approved by the UAE Cabinet in 2013. D evised by the National Biosecurity Committee, the strategy is working to enhance the UAE's biosecurity through issuing and updating legislations and laws, building capabilities to detect biological hazards, and deal with incidents and biological threats that can adversely affect the UAE community as well as the country's political, economic and tourism sectors. "

He noted that the strategy drives collaboration and coordination among all relevant entities across every stage in addressing biological hazards. In addition, it highlights the importance of engaging and qualifying the national workforce and ensuring effective community participation to achieve the objectives of the UAE Vision 2021 - focused on building integrated biosecurity mechanisms that enhance the UAE's overall safety and security.

The committee discussed a proposal to incorporate educational material on biosecurity into the curricula of universities and higher education institutes. Furthermore, it explored recommendations for a UAE official delegation to participate in the 2019 Biological Weapons Convention Meeting of Experts in Geneva. Committee members reviewed the progress on the deliverables and recommendations of the first meeting in March 2019 that focused on the completion of the Laboratory Biosecurity Manual and the progress of updating the National Biosecurity Strategy.

The committee also received a briefing on the mechanism of the online Early Biosecurity Notification System, launched by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in July2019.A ccessible at https://biosecalert.ae , the unified national platform enables the public to report suspicious cases of emerging epidemic threats and foodborne diseases with the aim of facilitating early detection and verification of outbreaks.

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