                 TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
 
                             PART I--CRIMES
 
                     CHAPTER 10--BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
 
Sec. 178. Definitions

    As used in this chapter--
        (1) the term ``biological agent'' means any micro-organism, 
    virus, infectious substance, or biological product that may be 
    engineered as a result of biotechnology, or any naturally occurring 
    or bioengineered component of any such microorganism, virus, 
    infectious substance, or biological product, capable of causing--
            (A) death, disease, or other biological malfunction in a 
        human, an animal, a plant, or another living organism;
            (B) deterioration of food, water, equipment, supplies, or 
        material of any kind; or
            (C) deleterious alteration of the environment;

        (2) the term ``toxin'' means the toxic material of plants, 
    animals, microorganisms, viruses, fungi, or infectious substances, 
    or a recombinant molecule, whatever its origin or method of 
    production, including--
            (A) any poisonous substance or biological product that may 
        be engineered as a result of biotechnology produced by a living 
        organism; or
            (B) any poisonous isomer or biological product, homolog, or 
        derivative of such a substance;

        (3) the term ``delivery system'' means--
            (A) any apparatus, equipment, device, or means of delivery 
        specifically designed to deliver or disseminate a biological 
        agent, toxin, or vector; or
            (B) any vector;

        (4) the term ``vector'' means a living organism, or molecule, 
    including a recombinant molecule, or biological product that may be 
    engineered as a result of biotechnology, capable of carrying a 
    biological agent or toxin to a host; and
        (5) the term ``national of the United States'' has the meaning 
    prescribed in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality 
    Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)).

(Added Pub. L. 101-298, Sec. 3(a), May 22, 1990, 104 Stat. 202; amended 
Pub. L. 104-132, title V, Sec. 511(b)(3), title VII, Sec. 721(h), Apr. 
24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1284, 1299.)


                               Amendments

    1996--Par. (1). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 511(b)(3)(A), substituted 
``infectious substance, or biological product that may be engineered as 
a result of biotechnology, or any naturally occurring or bioengineered 
component of any such microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or 
biological product'' for ``or infectious substance'' in introductory 
provisions.
    Par. (2). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 511(b)(3)(B)(i), (ii), in 
introductory provisions, inserted ``the toxic material of plants, 
animals, microorganisms, viruses, fungi, or infectious substances, or a 
recombinant molecule'' after ``means'' and substituted ``production, 
including--'' for ``production--''.
    Par. (2)(A). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 511(b)(3)(B)(iii), inserted ``or 
biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology'' 
after ``poisonous substance''.
    Par. (2)(B). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 511(b)(3)(B)(iv), inserted ``or 
biological product'' after ``isomer''.
    Par. (4). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 511(b)(3)(C), inserted ``, or 
molecule, including a recombinant molecule, or biological product that 
may be engineered as a result of biotechnology,'' after ``organism''.
    Par. (5). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 721(h), added par. (5).

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 2332a of this title.
