House passes pathogen registration

The House unanimously voted to pass legislation making it a crime for unauthorized persons to possess any agent that is on a list of viruses, bacteria and fungi identified by the U.S. government as a potential biological weapon. The law, which has not been considered by the Senate, would require registration of all researchers who possess or use such products, and all institutions that store or transport biological agents on the list of "select agents." The Bioterrorism Enforcement Act of 2001 (H.R. 3160) also would make it illegal for non-resident aliens to conduct research involving numerous pathogens commonly used in gene therapy research, such as adenovirus and herpesvirus, without prior authorization from the Secretary of HHS. Under the bill, the HHS Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General, could designate categories of non-resident aliens with "expertise valuable to the United States regarding select agents" and allow them to have access to such agents. ...