Item 14.3: Smallpox eradication: destruction of the variola virus stocks

Chair,

Norway takes note of the report, and does not support a decision point on destruction at this Health Assembly.

Two years ago, under the same agenda item, Norway was among the countries calling for the WHO secretariat to look into the possible implications of synthetic biology in this research area. Therefore we are comfortable with the Secretariat's proposal that this issue is brought back to the 72nd Health Assembly.

Thank you.