Date: Wednesday 8th April 2009

Location: Rose Room, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London, SE1 9HS

Registration: 10:30-11:00

Chair for the Session: Kate Haire

This event will cover the following topics:

A general overview of the proposed regulatory framework for human and animal pathogens:  Lorraine Medcalf

• Brief background to the work
• Options for the SRF
• What is in scope
• Cost recovery
• A description and demonstration of what the CoPI is / will look like
• Reminder of the Callaghan website address

Common set of Containment tables and guidance – John Newbold

• Approach to the containment work
• Progress
• Issues

Integrated notifications – John Newbold

• Current system
• Future system

The presentations will be followed by a question and answer session. Please could you give some thought to the questions attached prior to the event.

General

1  What are your thoughts about the ‘Callaghan’ recommendations?

2  Are there any of the ‘Callaghan’ recommendations that cause you real concern?

3  What do you think the advantages of a single regulatory framework will be?

Single Regulatory Framework

4  Of the three pieces of legislation (i.e.GMO(CU), CoSHH and SAPO) that we are going to be working with, which feature most in your daily work?

5  Of the three pieces of legislation that you use are there any particular problems, hurdles or redundant aspects that you would like to see changed? 

6  If possible given the nature of your work, what are the particular positive aspects of the three pieces of legislation that could be usefully retained?

7  If possible given the nature of your work, what are the particular negative aspects of the three pieces of legislation that could be usefully removed in the new legislation?

8  Are there any particular omissions from the three pieces of legislation that  would be beneficial to include in the new regulatory framework?

9  What are your thoughts about bringing together, into one unified document, the three pieces of legislation?

General questions relating to Notification

10  What do you find useful/helpful about the current notification systems?

11  What do you find less useful/helpful about the current notification systems?

12  Do you feel you are expected to provide too much/too little/the right amount of information in relation to the work you are carrying out?

13  Within your organisation would you see merit in appointing a central biological safety officer/adviser who could advise on: GM, COSHH and SAPO?

Would you like to see more joined up working between Government Departments when notifying similar information? (if so how?)