b) The suggestion of incorporating selective genetic markers in hosts was, in general, 
supported except that the markers should not involve increased infectivity, pathogenicity 
or resistance to antibiotics and other drugs in clinical use. 
c) Where disabled organisms and vectors can be used the degree of phycical containment 
may be relaxed. The development of alternative or disabled hosts and vectors should be 
given priority within the natural development of the whole field. 
d) Special housing and maintenance will be required for testing the infectivity of 
organisms in man, animals or plants. National centres might be provided for the testing 
of organisms containing new genetic combinations, whether this was considered to be 
important by the research group itself or by the laboratory safety committee. 
e) Both the national and international transfer of materials of new genetic combinations 
should be in the form of nucleic acid molecules without live vector or host organisms 
wherever this is possible. 
f) Since this is a rapidly expanding field of research the group believed that a 
continuing review of safety measures was of great importance. 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
I. For Part I 
1. WHO should submit rules for safe handling to the United Nations Committee of Experts 
on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Ninth Session, and to the Universal Postal 
Union. 
2. WHO should provide Member States with illustrated detailed directions for packaging. 
3. WHO should propose to the United Nations and to the Universal Postal Union the adoption 
of a standard label of diamond shape, size 10 cm x 10 cm, with black printing on a white 
background. The upper half shows the approved Infectious Material symbol; the lower 
half contains the following wording: "INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE. In case of damage or leakage 
immediately notify public health authority". This text can be translated into the 
appropriate language. 
4. WHO should convene further meetings as needed to keep these recommendations updated and 
effective . 
II . For Part II 
The group was aware that there was currently great public alarm about the possibility of 
epidemics (or even pandemics) arising from either the mishandling of known pathogens or the 
ill-considered use of DNA recombinant techniques. Codes of practice to regulate these now 
exist for the United States and the United Kingdom but the public tend to regard these merely 
as an attempt at self-regulation by medical scientists. 
1. The group proposes that WHO should initiate the establishment of an Advisory Group for 
Safety Measures in Microbiology. It is hoped that this Group will ensure, in an 
appropriate form, the participation of other organizations and institutes such as the 
United Nations Division of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization, the 
United Nations Environment Programme, industrial organizations, together with research 
organizations, the International Council of Scientific Unions, the International 
Committee for Laboratory Animals and universities. Following also the recommendation 
of the Advisory Committee on Medical Research (1976), full support should be given to a 
new, comprehensive assessment of the potential benefits and the conjectural risks of 
recombinant nucleic acid research. 
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