Biosecurity, as defined by FAO, offers a strategic and integrated approach to analyse and manage risks in food safety, animal and plant life and health, and biosafety. It provides a policy and regulatory framework to improve coordination and take advantage of the synergies that exist across sectors, helping to enhance protection of human, animal and plant life and health, and facilitate trade.

Biosecurity is emerging as one of the most pressing issues facing developed, developing and transition countries. Globalization, the increased movement of people, agricultural and food products across borders, changing agricultural practices, greater awareness of biodiversity and the environment, uncertainties surrounding new technologies, as well as international legal obligations are just some of the factors driving this interest.

FAO biosecurity Toolkit is available in English, French and Spanish. The toolkit sets out guidance to develop and implement national biosecurity frameworks, comprising:

• Biosecurity Principles and Components (Part 1): provides a broad introduction to biosecurity, and discusses the characteristics, requirements and benefits of a more harmonized approach.
• Biosecurity Capacity Assessment Tool (Part 2): outlines a guided process to assess capacity needs across the entire biosecurity arena.
• Biosecurity Risk Analysis Manual (Part 3): presents a framework to structure and guide the application of risk analysis (encompassing risk assessment, risk management and risk communication) in biosecurity.