At 05:07 PM 9/6/2002 -0400, you wrote: >Dear Colleague: > >As the anniversary of September 11th approaches, AAAS continues to >be engaged in issues that relate to national security and the role of >science and technology. One such issue is the safe and responsible >conduct of research involving biological agents and toxins. > >AAAS was recently asked by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to >assist in alerting our members to the federal mandate (Public Law 107-188) >requiring all facilities and persons that possess, use, or transfer agents >or toxins considered a threat to animals, plants, animal and plant products >and/or public health (called "select agents") to notify the CDC and the >U.S. Department of Agriculture. Approximately 200,000 facilities were >sent a copy of the notification form by the CDC. > >The deadline for submitting a completed form to the CDC is September 10, >2002. All entities that receive a copy of the form must comply, even if >they do not possess a select agent or toxin. If you are in possession of >a select agent or toxin and did not receive a form, you should call CDC's >toll-free number: 1-866-567-4232.
Thanks Alan but, This slippery slope concerning the ability of only approved researchers able to engage in science has gone too far and has got to stop. I don't accept that the "right of society" to protect itself from a few madmen abusers of technology means we all must carry scientist ID cards. Most of the significant discoveries, until this century, were made by amateurs. Almost all the R&D I did in the 60s and 70s as an amateur are now regulated. If I do any research, using whatever chemicals I choose, I won't be filing no "stinking forms. steve
