Join the NSF SECURE Center for a SPARK webinar featuring experts from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the importation of biological research materials into the United States.

Sharon Bishop, Biological Threat Exclusion Coordinator for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will provide an in-depth look at the regulatory landscape for importing biological and research materials into the United States. Her presentation will outline CBP’s mission and provide an overview of the branch dedicated to biological material importations, emphasizing interagency collaboration to protect U.S. research interests. She will identify frequently encountered compliance hurdles importers may face at ports of entry and provide detailed guidance on documentation, declaration, and packaging requirements. The presentation will conclude by directing attendees to key support resources, including the Office of Trade, the Office of Field Operations’ Agriculture Programs and Trade Liaison,  and various digital tools designed to support the importation process.

Scott Meyers, Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), will conclude the webinar with a presentation on the growing threat of illegal biological material importation into the United States. He will discuss common tactics used to circumvent import regulations, behavioral indicators that may signal unauthorized research or material transfers, and best practices for strengthening biological material security through institutional safeguards, federal partnerships, and reporting suspicious activity.

The webinar will conclude with a moderated audience Q&A.

The FBI portion of this webinar will not be recorded, so please plan to attend if you would like to view the content.