News

SEE: https://www.bioworld.com/articles/435564-regulatory-front-for-june-4-2020

“The Biotechnology Innovation Organization and the Council of State Bioscience Associations wrote to the U.S. House and Senate leadership this week to urge support for the Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act and to advance legislation directing the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a memorandum of understanding to streamline the regulatory oversight of animal biotechnology. A national One Health framework would help the U.S. better prevent, prepare for and respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks like COVID-19, according to the letter. “One Health collaboration eliminates barriers that often exist between human health, animal health and environmental health strategies to create smarter, multi-faceted and coordinated efforts,” the industry groups said. They noted that more than 60% of known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals, and three out of every four new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals. “Elevating and prioritizing the relationship of living things through One Health strategies and modernizing America’s animal biotechnology regulatory approach … will ensure we are ready for the next potential animal-to-human disease outbreak,” the letter said. ...”