Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Florida Statutes Title XXIX. Public Health § 381.875. Enhanced potential pandemic pathogen research prohibited

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(1) As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Enhanced potential pandemic pathogen” means a potential pandemic pathogen that results from enhancing the transmissibility or virulence of a pathogen. The term does not include naturally occurring pathogens circulating in or recovered from nature, regardless of their pandemic potential.

(b) “Enhanced potential pandemic pathogen research” means research that may be reasonably anticipated to create, transfer, or use potential pandemic pathogens that result from enhancing a pathogen's transmissibility or virulence in humans.

(c) “Potential pandemic pathogen” means a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that is likely to be both:

1. Highly transmissible and capable of wide, uncontrollable spread in human populations; and

2. Highly virulent, making it likely to cause significant morbidity or mortality in humans.

(2) Any research that is reasonably likely to create an enhanced potential pandemic pathogen or that has been determined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, another federal agency, or a state agency as defined in s. 11.45 to create such a pathogen is prohibited in this state.

(3) Any researcher applying for state or local funding to conduct research in this state must disclose in the application to the funding source whether the research meets the definition of enhanced potential pandemic pathogen research.

(4) The Department of Health shall exercise its authority under s. 381.0012 to enjoin violations of this section.

(5) This section does not affect research funded or conducted before May 11, 2023.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Florida Statutes Title XXIX. Public Health § 381.875. Enhanced potential pandemic pathogen research prohibited - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/fl/title-xxix-public-health/fl-st-sect-381-875/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard