1. Introduction: what is biosecurity?

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines biosecurity as a strategic and integrated approach for analysing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life and health, and associated risks to the environment1. This encompasses both the policy and regulatory frameworks.

Biosecurity covers food safety, zoonoses, the introduction of animal and plant diseases and pests, the introduction and release of living modified organisms (LMOs) and their products (e.g. genetically modified organisms or GMOs), and the introduction and management of invasive alien species.

Thus, biosecurity is a holistic concept of direct relevance to the sustainability of agriculture, and wide-ranging aspects of public health and protection of the environment, including biological diversity.