Companies who wish to possess or work with one or more of the biological substances or materials listed in Annex 1 to Executive Order no. 981 of 15 October 2009 with subsequent amendments and Annex 1 to Executive Order no. 803 of 22 June 2017 may only do so if they have applied for and obtained a licence.

Examples of companies that may need a licence in pursuance of the Executive Orders 

• Research and development institutions (including universities)
• Biotechnology companies
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Companies producing chemical / biological process equipment
• Companies producing laboratory equipment
• Companies which are countering the development or use of biological weapons 
• Retailers of biological substances or materials on the control list

and

Diagnostic laboratories which might get possession of controlled biological substances during diagnostic investigations.