Entities Generally Met Federal Select Agent Program Internal Inspection Requirements But CDC Could Do More To Improve Effectiveness

Select agents and toxins are potential bioweapons that can cause significant loss of life and economic damage. Incidents of mishandling select agents and toxins by some entities registered with the Federal Select Agents Program (FSAP) have raised questions about CDC's Division of Select Agents and Toxin's (DSAT) ability to oversee entities' responsible handling of select agents and toxins. Entities' internal inspections are one critical safeguard to help protect public health and safety. In this review, OIG examines entities' and DSAT's roles in implementing and overseeing these internal inspections. This builds on a companion review in which OIG examined DSAT's inspections of entities.