The Biosafety Advisory Council (BAC) is one of the two pillars (with the Service Biosafety and Biotechnology - SBB) of the scientific evaluation system that has been set up in Belgium to advise the Federal and Regional competent authorities about the biosafety of activities involving genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and/or pathogens.
The Council comprises 12 effective and 12 substitute members, representatives from the Federal Ministers competent for Agriculture, Public Health, Employment and Labour, and Science Policy, as well as representatives from the regional governments. It is assisted in its scientific work by external experts from academic institutions and by the SBB. The secretariat of the Council is ensured by the SBB.
The Council advises the authorities for all regulatory dossiers related to the deliberate release of GMOs in the environment or the placing on the market of GMOs and GMO-based products. The Council can be consulted by the Regions for contained activities involving GMOs and/or pathogens (i.e. activities taking place in laboratories, greenhouses, animal husbandries, production plants or hospital rooms).