What is a select agent for NIH?
A select agent is a biological agent or toxin that has the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety, animal or plant health, or animal or plant product.
What makes something a select agent?
Select agents are biological agents and toxins that have been determined to have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety, to animal and plant health, or to animal or plant products.
What is Federal select agent?
The Federal Select Agent Program oversees the possession, use and transfer of biological select agents and toxins, which have the potential to pose a severe threat to public, animal or plant health or to animal or plant products.
Is SARS CoV 2 considered a select agent?
No, SARS-CoV-2 is not a select agent identified in the select agent regulations. Therefore, the Federal Select Agent Program does not regulate the possession, use, and transfer of SARS-CoV-2.
What is an overlap select agent?
(1) Any overlap select agent or toxin that is in its naturally occurring environment provided that the select agent or toxin has not been intentionally introduced, cultivated, collected, or otherwise extracted from its natural source.
What are the tiers of biological agents?
The United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) has divided the agents which can be used as biological weapons into three categories, Category A, B, and C. Though these agents are rarely seen in the United States, we must prepare for them because they pose the greatest risk to our national security.
What agencies are involved in maintaining the select agents and toxins list?
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions’ (CDC) Division of Select Agents and Toxins (DSAT) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services’ (APHIS) Agriculture Select Agent Services (AgSAS) jointly constitute the Federal Select Agent Program.
How many federal agencies are involved in the secure use of select agents?
Progress of the Federal Select Agent Program Today, FSAP oversees more than 240 organizations that are registered to possess, use or transfer select agents and toxins.