States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) have committed to implementing measures that secure and account for materials posing biological proliferation risks. Establishing an accurate national overview of all locations storing controlled biological agents is essential for developing and maintaining effective measures to prevent, detect, and respond to the misuse of such agents, as well as for fulfilling international obligations and enacting robust national legislation.
To support States Parties in this task, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) of the Netherlands, co-funded by the European Union and implemented by the BWC Implementation Support Unit, has developed the National Registry of Controlled Biological Agents (NRCB) software tool. The NRCB tool enables States Parties to establish a comprehensive national registry of controlled biological agents stored in laboratories across the country. Within the context of biosecurity, such a national registry serves as a centralized database that collects and organizes information from all institutions storing or handling controlled biological agents, giving national authorities a clear overview of which high-risk pathogens are present within their territory and where they are located.
The NRCB software is a secure, universal electronic database that utilizes standardized surveys to facilitate the systematic collection, import, and storage of data. It enables detailed recording of relevant institutions, their geographic locations, the controlled biological agents they store and handle, biosafety classifications, and contact details of responsible biosafety officers. The software is designed to operate in a stand-alone computer environment without requiring internet access, ensuring maximum data security. It also includes built-in functionalities to help authorities validate and verify submitted information, and to support monitoring and compliance with national regulations. All data are securely encrypted using advanced encryption standards to protect sensitive information.
Implementing a national registry using the NRCB tool not only supports compliance with the BWC and other international frameworks, but also provides a foundation for a robust biosecurity assessment and monitoring system for laboratories handling controlled biological agents.
The NRCB software and accompanying guidance documents are available to interested States upon request. States Parties wishing to organize implementation workshops or seeking further guidance are invited to contact the BWC Implementation Support Unit (bwc@un.org).
