Risk assessment of GMOs and pathogens in Belgium 1990-2010: a review of 20 years of expertise in the field by the Scientific Institute of Public Health

This book retraces, through an historical overview and detailed facts and figures, the story of 20 years of biosafety in Belgium in its evolutionary context. It emphasizes the privileged place of the SBB in the Belgian biosafety landscape, describing how the unit developed from a one-person organization in 1990 to a flourishing unit with 11 scientists. It shows the essential and recognized role of the SBB as a partner on the European and international stage, and gives a review of the main communication and information activities to which the SBB has contributed in order to meet the needs of the public and various stakeholders. This book also presents some prospective thoughts about what could be the future methodology and substance of the scientific assessment of biological risks.