b'INTERNATIONAL BIOFILMMISSIONSTANDARDS TASK GROUP To guide the international development and acceptance of standardised biofilm test methods in health care, the Since our first Biofilm Detection workshop in 2018, webuilt environment and industrial systems.have heard a recurring need across all industrial sectorsGOAL for NBIC to pioneer wider engagement with regulatorsEnable for informed and consistent decision making on and other stakeholders in the need for both a betterthe international regulation of anti-biofilm products.definition of standards and policy developments in the field of biofilms. NBIC has a role to play in helping toAIMSdevelop a consensus view and to lead on developmentEducate regulatory decision makers on the of standards and in influencing regulators. importance of using biofilm methods for biofilm-Driven by this need, in February 2020 NBIC, along withspecific label claims.the USA Center for Biofilm Engineering, the SingaporePromote to public officials the need to set based SCELSE Centre and an EU Cooperation in Scienceglobal biofilm standards through a consortium and Technology (COST) action group, formed anof established and recognised regional expert International Biofilms Standards Task Group (IBSTG) toorganisations.drive the international development and acceptance of standardised biofilm test methods in health care, theStandardise and validate biofilm test methods that built environment and industrial systems. Our goal is toare referenced in regulatory guidance documents.enable informed and consistent decision making on thePromote the use of statistically validated biofilm international regulation of anti-biofilm products. methods when regulating products with a kills or The group has published its purpose and missionprevents biofilm label claim.across all partner websites and forums. Leverage the global nature of the consortium to adapt testing methods across geographies.Engage industry, research institutions, and academic stakeholders in the method development process.Champion biofilm methods in country and industry specific standard setting committees.Promote international consensus in the biofilm methods recognised in regulatory guidance documents.ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROGRESS TO DATEIn June 2020 NBIC joined the BSI CH/216 - Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics committee to lobby for development of standards for assessment of these agents in the presence of biofilms.In December 2020 NBIC secured funding from the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to progress the development and characterisation of standardised biofilms with a view to developing a joint platform methodology with SCELSE in Singapore.In June 2021 the committee agreed to launch a working group to begin the process towards agreeing and validating consensus methodology with a view to a UK and CEN standard.FUTURE PLANS The IBSTG is working to set up a central database of all current methodologies and standards that do exist in whatever sector and whatever term they use to call biofilms e.g. slime and the microbiome. In September 2021 the IBSTG is leading a session at the International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Symposium (IBBS) on Closing the gap: the role of regulatory standards in biofilm research & industry innovation. Establish preferred protocol for the BSI CH/216 group in UK and carry out lab evaluation in multiple sites.17'