Building Secure Future Dr. Mohammad Hossein MODARESSI Director of Pasteur Institute of Iran Meeting of States Parties, BWC, Geneva, 6-10 Dec. 2010
Pasteur Institute of Iran • Pasteur Institute of Iran which is a 90 year old research center set up for combating of infectious diseases. • We are the first center in the middle east producing vaccines under supervision of National Regulatory Authority which has been approved by WHO in 2010.
Pasteur Institute of Iran • Our vaccines production facilities have been visited by different experts from WHO, EMRO, countries ( France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, India and etc.) and companies ( Sanofi Pasteur, Novartis, Omnivest and etc.) since 2007
Pasteur Institute of Iran International association and collaborations • We are associated with the Pasteur Institute of France and part of the Pasteur institute networks which is dedicated to the humanitarian cause of eradication of diseases in the world. • Some training Courses and workshops for neighboring countries on Malaria and Vector- borne diseases carry out every year.
Pasteur Institute of Iran • Our many research departments carry out surveillance and GIS for different infectious diseases in the country, we work on malaria, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Rabies, Leishamniosis, tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitits, Influenza and etc..
Standard Strains Requirements • We make detection kits for these diseases and as you all know we need standard strains of bacteria and viruses to be used as reference for our kits and tests. • For the past few years, we have been finding it difficult to get standard strains of bacteria, viruses and even antibodies which are freely available to all researchers the world over.
Restrictions and limitations • These restrictions imposed in the field of peaceful uses of standard strains is in clear violation of the BWC provisions and also to any norm of international cooperation. "Science has no country, or rather its country encompasses all humanity" , Louis Pasteur
Restrictions and limitations results • Such restriction would have no impact on our resolve and determination to protect our peoples’ health • But what would be the results of these restrictions? --- Going to self sufficiency, Improvement and development of indigenous capability To develop an international scientific cooperation, Mutual trust is a must
Biosafety issues in Iran • The Islamic Republic of Iran proved its commitment to biosafety issues by joining the Convention on Biological Diversity in August 1996. According to Paragraph 8 of this Convention, Iran commits itself to the creation and maintenance of tools necessary for supervising, managing and controlling risks in the use or release of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology with regards to human health and the environment.
History of Biosafety in Iran • Iran signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2001. • In 2003 The Iranian Parliament ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
National Biosafety Law • In 29 July 2009, The Iranian Parliament ratified the Biosafety Act. Therefor,Biosafety Act of Iran came into force on 27th August 2009 following the order of President.
Immigration and borders • It should be noted that though the incidence of many infectious diseases has come down greatly in Iran, but due to the strife in our neighboring countries and migration, there is a permanent threat of these diseases in the border regions.
Remember we are living in a global village, anything wrong can affect all of us!
Suggestions • There is a strong demand for the full implementation of Article X of BWC • To think scientifically and to work globally together so we always see and control each other • There is an increasing demand to improve cooperation in the field of transfer Biological agents and knowledge for peaceful purposes. • politically motivated restrictions and limitations in this regard should be removed
Thank you for your attention "Science has no country, or rather its country encompasses all humanity" , Louis Pasteur
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