STCU News and Announcements
STCU P100 Strengthens Frontline Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures in Southeast and Eastern European Region: Fact-Finding Visit to Ukraine
420/49612 Nov 2024
Kyiv, Ukraine — October 17-18, 2024: As part of the EU-funded P100 Project on Strengthening the Frontline Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures in the South East and Eastern European region, a fact-finding visit was conducted at the Chop International Border Crossing Point (BCP) between Ukraine and Hungary. This visit was designed to evaluate the current biosafety and biosecurity management practices by frontline and supporting agencies at the Chop BCP.
Key Highlights of the Visit
During the two-day mission, the P100 project team met with officials from multiple agencies stationed at the Chop BCP, including:
• The State Border Guard Service
• The Customs Service
• Public health authorities
• Food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary experts
Discussions and Findings
• The meetings provided an in-depth overview of integrated border management activities, showcasing the collaboration between various agencies. Topics included:
• Interagency and National Collaboration: Insights were shared on cooperative efforts between agencies at both the operational and strategic levels.
• Guideline Documentation: An examination of the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and memoranda of understanding between stakeholders.
• Training Activities: Reviews of current training programs focusing on biosafety and biosecurity.
• International Collaboration: Emphasis was placed on partnerships with international stakeholders and how cross-border efforts can strengthen biosafety and biosecurity measures.
Infrastructure Assessment: Evaluation of available resources and facilities for the detection, mitigation, and response to potential biological threats.
Contextual Challenges and Dedication
Despite the ongoing war with Russia, the Ukranian border and customs officials, along with their colleagues from public health, veterinary, and phytosanitary services, demonstrated exceptional commitment. They provided comprehensive insights into existing capabilities and discussed challenges and strengths related to frontline biosafety and biosecurity operations.
Next Steps
The Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU) will compile a detailed report of the visit’s findings and recommendations. This report will be shared with the European Union and relevant national stakeholders in Ukraine to guide and inform future project activities and enhancements in biosafety and biosecurity.
The P100 team expresses gratitude to all participating agencies and individuals for their openness and collaboration during this visit. Their dedication is a testament to Ukraine’s resilience and determination to maintain robust biosafety and biosecurity measures despite significant challenges.
The P100 project continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing regional safety and fostering collaborative strategies to prevent, detect, and respond to biological threats.*
In a dedicated effort to enhance frontline biosafety and biosecurity measures across the South East and Eastern Europe (SEEE) region, the STCU P100 Team conducted a fact-finding visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on March 25-29, 2024, as part of the P100 initiative: Strengthening Front Line Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures in SEEE Region. The primary objective of the visit was to engage stakeholders, evaluate current practices, and identify collaboration opportunities aimed at reinforcing biosafety and biosecurity measures, particularly at border crossing points and customs zones.
STCU together with the EU expresses its gratitude to the Ukranian authorities for their cooperation and commitment to strengthening the front-line biosafety and biosecurity measures in the SEEE Region. This initiative underscores STCU's and EU’s dedication to strengthening BS&S measures in the SEEE region and fostering international collaboration to mitigate biological threats effectively.