As the commercial use of high-risk pathogens is becoming increasingly common as evidenced by the fact that more than 20 biotech companies has either reported the holding of Botulinum strains used for Botox products or expressed their intention to start a new project, critics say that the control of high-risk pathogens must be tightened.

Despite the fact that high-risk pathogens such as Botulinum strains and anthrax bacillus have a potential to kill tens of thousands of lives with only an infinitesimal amount, the lack of information about precise DNA sequencing makes it difficult to identify the sources or distribution pathways of high-risk pathogens. Worse yet, should a particular pathogen be leaked, it is difficult to make a quick and effective response to conduct epidemiologic investigations or eliminate hazards.

Accordingly, the Act aims to add a project for anaylzing DNA sequencing of pathogens causing infectious diseases to the State and local governments’ infectious disease control projects, and to make it mandatory to notify the results of DNA sequencing analysis when extracting or transferring high-risk pathogens, thereby protecting public health from high-risk pathogenic hazards. (Article 4, paragraph 2, subparagraph 7 and Article 21, paragraph 1)

A person who intends to extract a high-risk pathogen or to transfer an extracted high-risk pathogen shall, without delay, notify the Minister of Health and Welfare of the analysis results of DNA sequencing of the high-risk pathogen. (Article 21)