Bioterrorism: It is a terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents. These agents are bacteria, viruses, insects, fungi, or toxins, and may be in a naturally occurring or a human-modified form, in much the same way in biological warfare.
Example: Bioterrorism attacks could result in an epidemic, for example if Ebola or Lassa viruses were used as the biological agents.
Why in news?
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health in its report “The Outbreak of Pandemic COVID-19 And its Management” has called for formulating effective laws to counter .
Legal Provisions in place:
Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention(BTWC): It opened for signature in 1972 and entered into force in 1975. It is the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the production of an entire category of weapons.
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Obligations: The treaty bans the development or acquire or transfer of biological agents or toxins that have no justification for peaceful uses and weapons or equipment designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes.
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Parties: It currently has 183 states. India signed the convention in 1973.