This toolkit is a questionnaire designed to give users a current indication of their organization’s biosecurity. The questionnaire is divided into eight sections. Each of the sections covers one of the Netherlands Biosecurity Office’s eight pillars of biosecurity: awareness, personnel reliability, transport security, information security, accountability for materials, response, management, or physical measures. The user can choose to start the questionnaire at the pillar of their choice and view interim results at any time. Additionally, clicking on any pillar on the results page will redirect the user to a page on the Biosecurity Office website describing this pillar and suggesting best practices. This resource is similar to the Netherlands Biosecurity Office Vulnerability Scan tool (included in this library as well). However, these questionnaires have shorter questions, and responses are limited to “Yes,” “No,” or “N.A.”

In 2009, the Dutch government initiated a coordinated Biosecurity Program to assist organizations that handle potentially hazardous biological agents and any associated technology. The Netherlands Biosecurity Office was founded in 2012 as a part of that program.  The Biosecurity Office is the Dutch knowledge and information center for biosecurity. It offers a plethora of awareness-raising online tools and in-person workshops. In creating these resources, the Biosecurity Office refers to previously adopted practices set forth by national and international initiatives, including the BTWC, the EU CBRN Action Plan, CWA 15793, and the Dutch Biosecurity Code of Conduct. The self-scan toolkit is just one of the online tools available on the Biosecurity Office’s website. This particular tool is available in English, Dutch, and French. No updates are expected at this time. This tool aims to strengthen awareness around biosecurity among laboratory employees, biosafety or biosecurity officers, and laboratory managers.