Both internationally and within the Netherlands, different lists are used with regard to risk classifications for pathogens. These lists have been composed by various bodies with different aims and with different underlying principles. For example, legislation on genetically modified organisms uses one list while legislation on working conditions uses another. This means that the same pathogens included in various lists may be classified in different risk groups. A number of different lists are also available for the export of biological agents, such as the ‘dual use’ list within the EU, ‘the Australia group’ in Australia and the ‘select agents list’ for the United States. Again, not all of these export lists use the same classifications.

Human and animal pathogens

The Dutch biosecurity policy currently focuses on wild-type and genetically modified human and animal pathogens in risk classes 3 and 4. To clarify the various classifications, the most commonly used ranking lists have been combined into a single overview table. This table also contains information on pathogens that appear on various export control lists, allowing you to see at a glance both the biosafety and biosecurity classification of a pathogen. In addition, the NCBI identification number and the type of agent are included. The combined list is available as both a PDF and an Excel file. The Excel version includes a filter option, making the list easy to search.

Plant pathogens

For plant pathogens, we provide a separate overview listing the quarantine organisms named in the EU Regulation 2019/2072 (Annex II). This table is similar to that listing the human and animal pathogens, but without the risk classification. Dutch policy on biosecurity currently does not indicate which plant pathogens are likely to require regulation. The overview provided here is therefore purely informative.

Although we have taken the greatest care when compiling these tables, it is possible that they contain incomplete or inaccurate information. The Biosecurity Office is not responsible for any such mistakes. If you do notice a mistake, we would greatly appreciate you passing this on to the Biosecurity Office (biosecurity@rivm.nl).