Biosafety Information Network and Advisory Service

[George Tzotzos]

Newsgroups: bionet.general
Subject: Biosafety Information Network and Advisory Service


BIOSAFETY INFORMATION NETWORK AND ADVISORY SERVICE

The Biosafety Information Network and Advisory Service (BINAS) is a 
comprehensive data resource and technical assistance service established 
by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in order 
to facilitate the formulation, refinement and harmonization of biotechnology 
regulations, as well as, to provide a decision support environment for risk 
assessment of confined uses or environmental releases of transgenic organisms. 

This electronic service is complemented by:

	expert advice to:     

		Governments
		National Safety Committees
		Institutional Safety Committees
		Industry

	and training in biological risk assessment.


Information support is provided in the form of

	DATABASES on:

		national biosafety regulations and guidelines
		experts in risk assessment and evaluation
		addresses and regulatory mandates of national authorities
		field releases of transgenic organisms

	EXTENSION SERVICES 

		supported by government appointed BINAS Network Nodes. 

	INTERACTIVE TOOLS for: 
		
		molecular sequence and bibliographic databases
		electronic mail and bulletin board services
		access to other relevant biotechnology information resources 


All information carried by BINAS comes from primary sources and is totally 
unbiased. BINAS respects confidential business information and intellectual 
property rights, and will only allow users access to public domain data. 

Users are invited to submit any information considered relevant, as well as,
comments aimed at improving the service.

An experimental version of the BINAS service can be accessed via Gopher on 
the following host:

	binas.un.or.at port 70
        (161.5.224.30)


Interactive access to the BINAS server is also available upon request.

Should you have any difficulty connecting to the BINAS Service or any 
comments, please contact consultant at binas.un.or.at.