Strengthening India’s Biosecurity Framework for Emerging Biothreats

Biosecurity Latest News

• India’s need to strengthen its biosecurity framework has gained renewed attention following expert assessments indicating rising biothreats due to new-age biotechnologies, increasing capabilities of non-state actors, and gaps in India’s current response systems.

Understanding Biosecurity

• Biosecurity refers to practices and systems aimed at preventing the intentional misuse of biological agents, toxins, or technologies. It includes:
  • Securing laboratories handling dangerous pathogens
  • Preventing deliberate outbreaks
  • Protecting human, animal, and plant health
• Biosecurity differs from biosafety, which deals with preventing accidental leakage of pathogens; however, strong biosafety protocols support effective biosecurity. 

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Evolution of Global Biosecurity Norms

• The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), adopted in 1975, was the world’s first treaty prohibiting the development and use of biological weapons. It also mandated the destruction of existing stockpiles.
• Since then, global usage of bioweapons has largely declined, but emerging technologies and geopolitical complexities have increased risks. 

Why India Needs a Stronger Biosecurity System

• Geographic and Ecological Vulnerability
  • India’s vast borders, biodiversity, and high population density increase the risk of cross-border biological threats. Any outbreak, natural or engineered, could spread rapidly. 
• High Dependence on Agriculture
  • Agriculture forms the backbone of rural livelihoods. A biological attack or pathogen outbreak affecting crops or livestock can severely harm food security and the economy.
• Threat from Non-State Actors
  • The article highlights an incident involving the alleged preparation of Ricin toxin, a potent biotoxin, for possible terror use. This underscores that terror groups are exploring biological tools. 
• Rapid Biotechnology Advancements
  • Modern biotechnologies provide unprecedented power to manipulate biological systems. While beneficial, these tools can also be exploited, raising the probability of engineered biothreats. 

India’s Existing Biosecurity Architecture

• Department of Biotechnology – Oversees lab research governance, biosafety frameworks, and modern biotech oversight.
• National Centre for Disease Control – Manages outbreak surveillance and public health response.
• Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying – Monitors livestock diseases and transboundary animal health threats.
• Plant Quarantine Organisation of India – Regulates agricultural imports and protects crop ecosystems.
• Legal and Policy Frameworks
  • Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 – regulates hazardous microorganisms and GMOs
  • WMD & Delivery Systems Act, 2005 – criminalises biological weapons
  • Biosafety Rules, 1989, and rDNA Guidelines, 2017 – govern lab containment and genetic research
  • NDMA Guidelines – cover management of biological disasters
• International Participation
  • India is a member of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) & Australia Group (controlling export of dual-use technologies)

Gaps in India’s Biosecurity System

• Despite multiple institutions, India lacks a unified national biosecurity framework. The system is fragmented, leading to gaps in coordination, surveillance, and emergency response.
• India ranks 66th on the Global Health Security Index, with declining capability in threat response despite some improvement in detection systems. 
• Key Weaknesses Identified
  • Outdated legal frameworks that have not kept pace with fast-evolving biotech
  • Limited coordination between human, animal, and environmental health sectors
  • Inadequate infrastructure for high-level lab containment
  • Insufficient national surveillance for engineered threats

Global Best Practices and Lessons for India

• United States – National Biodefense Strategy (2022-2028) integrates health, defence, and biotech oversight.
  • Federal DNA Screening Guidelines (2024) require gene synthesis companies to screen DNA orders against pathogen databases.
• European Union – The EU Health Security Framework (2022) emphasises One Health integration.

• China – Biosecurity Law (2021) classifies biotech and genetic data as national security assets, imposing strict regulation on research and material transfers.

• Australia – Biosecurity Act (2015) offers a unified approach across sectors, recently expanded to cover synthetic biology.

• United Kingdom – Biological Security Strategy (2023) focuses on surveillance and rapid response capabilities.

• These models highlight the importance of unified oversight, modern regulation, and proactive monitoring.

Way Forward

• Establish a National Biosecurity Framework
  • A centralised structure coordinating health, agriculture, environment, defence, and biotech agencies.
• Upgrade National Surveillance and Infrastructure
  • Invest in modern bio surveillance tools, genomic sequencing, and high-containment laboratories.
• Modernise Legal and Regulatory Systems
  • Update outdated laws to incorporate synthetic biology, gene editing, and dual-use research.
• Adopt New-Age Technologies
  • Microbial forensics, AI-driven pathogen detection, and social media surveillance can help identify threats early. 
• Strengthen International Cooperation
  • Engage more deeply with global biosecurity norms, crisis simulations, and data-sharing platforms.

Source: TH