More than 100 participants from around the world convened in Abu Dhabi, UAE from 12-14 November 2007 for Biosafety and Biosecurity International Conference 2007 (BBIC 2007): A Seminar for the Life Sciences and Policy Communities in the Gulf and MENA Region. Conference participants explored biosafety, biosecurity, environmental health and infectious disease issues specific to the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA1) and interacted with experts from other parts of the world.

In order to carry out these recommendations, a core group of participants worked together to agree an action plan to carry out the conference outcomes, including the development of a framework for a regional biosafety and biosecurity strategy, and to begin planning BBIC 2009, hosted in Casablanca, Morocco from April 2-4, 2009. The framework served as the basis for discussion and was the particular focus of breakout sessions on the four proposed working groups. As a result of those discussions, some amendments to the framework were suggested and the conference adopted the amended framework by acclamation.

Prepared by: ICLS with the assistance of a core group of experts from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)