The International Biofilms Standards Task Group, IBSTG, is an international collaborative effort initiated to drive the international development and acceptance of standardised biofilm test methods and standards in health care, the built environment and industrial systems. SNBC and SCELSE, co-founders of the task force, are working with leading biofilm research centers in the UK, Europe and US to develop standardized biofilm test methods and enable informed decision-making regarding international regulation and localised standards for antibiofilm products.

Mission

To guide the international development and acceptance of standardised biofilm test methods in health care, the built environment and industrial systems.

Goal

Enable for informed and consistent decision making on the international regulation of anti-biofilm products.

Aim

• Educate regulatory decision makers on the importance of using biofilm methods for biofilm specific label claims.

• Promote to public officials the need to set global biofilm standards through a consortium of established and recognized regional expert organizations

• Standardize and validate biofilm test methods that are referenced in regulatory guidance documents.

• Promote the use of statistically validated biofilm methods when regulating products with a “kills” or “prevents” biofilm label claim.

• 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 recognized in regulatory guidance documents.