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

For the time being, Dutch biosecurity policy is aimed at wild-type and genetically modified human and animal pathogens in risk classes 3 and 4. For transparency between the different classifications, we have combined the most widely used classification lists in a single overview. This overview also contains information about pathogens found on the various export lists. Here you can find combined information about the biosafety and biosecurity classification of each pathogen in one place.

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).