MANILA PATHOGEN SECURITY LEGAL WORKSHOP 9/27-28

UNCLAS MANILA 003643 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL TBIO RP SUBJECT: MANILA PATHOGEN SECURITY LEGAL WORKSHOP 9/27-28 ¶1. The State Department Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction (CB),Bureau of International Security and Non-proliferation (ISN),led a two-day workshop on legal issues associated with the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and pathogen security practices on September 27 and 28 in Manila, Philippines. Philippine participants welcomed the opportunity to interact with experts and expressed their interest in further training on the issues. ¶2. The State speakers explained the measures under the Biological Weapons Convention and presented model legislation for pathogen security. ¶3. The Philippine representatives indicated that they are now developing their own standards for biosafety and biosecurity, including defining agents, toxins, and vaccines. They said the Philippines already has an action plan on biosafety issues, but is still working on such a plan for biosecurity issues. The participants agreed on the importance of the new legislation, but also said that they receive little support or resources from their government. ¶4. The 38 Philippine participants included representatives from the following Philippine government offices: the Office of the Executive Secretary, Presidential Situation Room, Department of National SIPDIS Defense/Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Justice, Health Department/Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of the Interior and Local Government/Bureau of Fire Protection, National Security Council, Department of Foreign Affairs, University of the Philippines-Department of Pharmacology, Department of Agriculture and the National Bureau of Investigation. KENNEY