Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE32895
2008-03-31 17:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

AUSTRALIA GROUP: U.S.-UK PROPOSAL FOR REVISION

Tags:  PARM ETTC CBW SIPDIS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #2895 0911752
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311746Z MAR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AUSTRALIA GROUP COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV PRIORITY 0000
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 0000
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0000
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC 0000
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS STATE 032895 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM ETTC CBW SIPDIS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA GROUP: U.S.-UK PROPOSAL FOR REVISION
TO THE DUAL-USE BIOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT CONTROL LIST

UNCLAS STATE 032895

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM ETTC CBW SIPDIS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA GROUP: U.S.-UK PROPOSAL FOR REVISION
TO THE DUAL-USE BIOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT CONTROL LIST


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph

3.


2. (SBU) Background: The Australia Group (AG) will hold
its 2008 plenary session in Paris on April 14-18, 2008.
The USG plans to make several presentations and policy
proposals at the plenary, including a revision to the
current control for cross (tangential) flow filtration
(CFF) equipment. The current control only governs CFF
equipment that can be sterilized or disinfected in
place. This limitation is becoming problematic because
a number of industries, including the biotechnology and
pharmaceutical industries, increasingly prefer CFF
systems with disposable components over sterilization-
capable systems because they offer better performance at
a lower cost. This proposal, developed in cooperation
with the UK, is intended to address the issue of
disposable CFF equipment by shifting the control's key
characteristics from sterilization capability to the
requirement for external propagation of aerosols.


3. (U) Action Request: Drawing on the background
above, request all AG country posts provide the non-
paper in paragraph 5 to the appropriate host government
officials and report a response. In delivering this non-
paper, posts should indicate that the U.S. is sharing
this paper as part of our preparation for the April 14-
18 AG plenary. Also request Embassy Canberra provide
the non-paper to the AG chair for circulation as an
official AG document. Please begin all responses with
Australia Group and slug for ISN.


4. (SBU) Begin text of non-paper:


AG-In-Confidence

AUSTRALIA GROUP

Australia Group Doc
AG/Apr08/CL/USA/UK/xx

Control List of Dual-Use Biological Equipment and
Related Technology: Updating and Clarifying the Control
of Cross (Tangential) Flow Filtration Equipment

Issue

The current test involving the control of cross
(tangential) flow filtration (CFF) equipment leaves room
for broad interpretation resulting in unclear export
control of CFF equipment and components. We propose a
review of the control because of this uncertainty in
interpretation, new development in the application of
CFF equipment, and the growing use of disposable systems
and components.

Background

CFF equipment and components are controlled by the
Australia Group (AG) because of its potential use in
biological weapons programs. The AG currently controls
CFF equipment capable of in-situ sterilization and
disinfection. It also controls components that: 1) have
a filtration area equal to or greater than 0.2 square
meters for each component and 2) are designed for use
with CFF equipment.

Unfortunately, the terms 'sterilization,'
'disinfection,' and 'sanitization' have created more
confusion than originally anticipated. Some
manufacturers classify their items as controlled while
other manufacturers with comparable products do not
classify their items as controlled. This difference in
interpretation results in inconsistent export control
licensing of items within this entry among AG members.

CFF is useful in a wide variety of applications,
including the filtration of drinking water and beer,
fruit juice processing, diesel oil separation and
production of biological products. Such biological
products would include highly beneficial products such
as medicines, as well as dangerous pathogens and toxins.

The biotechnology, pharmaceutical and other industries
are increasingly using single-use, disposable units in
place of traditional equipment and components that
require cleaning, disinfection or sterilization before
re-use. Disposables offer many advantages, including
increased speed, reduced cleaning requirements, greater
batch-to-batch consistency, higher yields, decreased
risk of cross-contamination, and enhanced sterility and
quality assurance. During the Implementation Meeting of
the 2007 Australia Group Plenary, the UK raised the
increased availability and use of disposable
bioreactors, and delegations re-affirmed that those
having a capacity of 20 liters of greater and operation
without the propagation of aerosols were controlled
items.

It is not clear that disposable or single-use CFF
components are controlled under the existing wording,
which stipulates the necessity for controlled equipment
and components to be 'capable of being sterilized or
disinfected in-situ.'

Discussion

The Technical Note appearing in the Control List of
Dual-Use Biological Equipment and Related Technology
defines 'sterilized' as the elimination of ALL viable
microbes from the equipment through the use of either
physical (e.g. steam) or chemical agents. 'Disinfected'
means the destruction of potential microbial infectivity
in the equipment through the use of chemical agents with
germicidal effect. The above terminology gives rise to
variable interpretations among different companies.
Some companies claim their products cannot withstand the
hard treatment of chemicals or autoclaving without
affecting the integrity of their products. Other
companies refrain from claiming that ALL viable microbes
(including Gram positive microbes or spores) are
eliminated with chemical agents.

There has also been some confusion regarding the term
'without propagation of aerosols.' Based on discussions
with other countries, some companies claim there is
propagation of aerosols within the filtration system
(i.e., internally). They claim the internal propagation
means the system does not meet the ?without propagation
of aerosols? threshold, thereby rending the system
uncontrolled. Amending the control to read ?without the
external propagation of aerosols? will more clearly
describe the intent of the control, which has always
been to capture those systems that can harvest
pathogenic materials, including those with internal
propagation.

Recent innovations for CFF cassettes and modules as
disposable, single-use entities would make these items
not eligible for control as they are not designed to be
'sterilized' or 'disinfected.' They would not meet the
current criteria of the current CFF equipment control.

The most advanced water filtration systems use CFF
technology to purify water and remove illness causing
organisms. The N.B. to the control specifies that
reverse osmosis (RO) equipment is not controlled.
Recognizing the difference between RO equipment
(including components) and CFF (including nano-, ultra-,
and micro-filtration CFF and components),we propose
that the exemption for RO equipment be retained and
expanded to include components. Thus an additional
clarification to the N.B. is proposed to ensure these
systems, as well as other beverage and fuel filtration
systems are not inadvertently captured.

The CFF equipment control is intended to control CFF
systems designed for biological harvesting and
pharmaceutical processing. These systems are capable of
separation of pathogenic micro-organisms without the
propagation of aerosols as the key discriminating
criteria. This is also noted that filtration components
listed in the control must be designed for use in such a
system in order to be controlled.

We suggest modifying the CFF equipment control as
follows:


1. Remove 'capable of being sterilized or disinfected
in-situ.' This removal will eliminate the varied
interpretations and will capture disposable systems and
components.


2. Amend the phrase ?without propagation of aerosols?
to 'without the external propagation of aerosols' In the
first paragraph of the control.


3. Modify the N.B. to read as follows: 'N.B.: This
control excludes reverse osmosis equipment and
components as specified by the manufacturer, and water,
oil or beverage purification systems that are unsuitable
due to their design for the separation of pathogens and
toxins.'


4. Remove the Technical Note at the end of the control
that addresses 'sterilization' and 'disinfection.'

Proposal

Cross (tangential) Flow Filtration Equipment

Cross (tangential) flow filtration equipment capable of
separation of pathogenic micro-organisms, viruses,
toxins, or cell cultures, without external propagation
of aerosols, having a total filtration area equipment to
or greater than 1 square meter (1 m2).

N.B.: This control excludes reverse osmosis equipment
and components as specified by the manufacturer and
water, oil, or beverage purification systems that are
unsuitable due to their design for the separation of
pathogens and toxins.

Cross (tangential) flow filtration components (e.g.,
modules, elements, cassettes, cartridges, unites or
plates) with filtration area equal to or greater than
0.2 square meters (0.2 m2) for each component and
designed for use in cross (tangential) flow filtration
equipment as specified above.

N.B.: This control includes both multiple-use and
disposable, or single-use, filtration components, and
their holders.

End text of the non-paper


5. (U) Please contact ISN/CB Andrew Souza at 202-647-
4838 or via unclassified e-mail at souzaam@state.gov for
additional information or clarifications.


6. (U) Post?s assistance is appreciated.
RICE