Brussels, 11/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission officially adopted a Green Paper on bio-preparedness, with a view to stimulating a debate and launching consultation at European level on how to reduce biological risks. Security Commissioner Franco Frattini and Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou briefed the press on their project that is to open a period of consultation ending on 1 October 2007. Details of the Green Paper, the aim of which is to formulate responses likely to reduce biological risk and to strengthen preparedness and response, had already been presented by EUROPE in its 10 July issue (EUROPE 9464). “Although the risk is statistically low (…), we are taking the biological risk very seriously”, Mr Frattini said. The commissioner above all explained that the Commission's intention was to foster increased cooperation on information exchange and the pooling of resources, without, however, creating new structures. To achieve this, public and private sector representatives in all member states must be involved, he pointed out. “We have to continuously discuss with research communities, public authorities, the security community, intelligence services and all first responders, for example civil protection in case of biological terrorist attack”, the Commission affirmed, floating the idea of a European Bio Network. Mr Frattini also pointed out that the Commission intended to pursue a similar approach concerning “radiological risks” and that a document could be brought out in this field over the next few months. Commissioner Kyprianou, for his part, asserted that the Green Paper follows an approach that takes all biological risks into account - “generic preparedness” - not only in the event of terrorist attack, that can occur in different places at the same time, but also in the event of accidental and natural dissemination of disease agents or pathogens. Responses to be developed will aim to protect “public health, animal and plant health and the whole food chain” and to prevent any “devastating economic effects”, he said. The health commissioner stressed that the legislative instruments were already in place for some sectors such as food safety or the fight against fraud but that “other instruments” could also be foreseen following this consultation. The Green Paper targets a broad range of players, such as national authorities responsible for risk prevention, investigation and response; human, animal and plant health; customs; civil protection; law enforcement authorities; the military; bio-industry; epidemiological and health communities; academic institutions and bioresearch communities.