85.The National Biological Standards Board (‘the NBSB’) was established as a body corporate under the Biological Standards Act 1975 and it performs functions relating to the establishment of standards for, the provision of standard preparations of, and the testing of, biological substances. The transfer of its functions to the Health Protection Agency delivers one of the outcomes of the Department of Health’s Arm’s Length Body Review by reducing the number of Arm’s Length Bodies.
86.Section 159 abolishes the NBSB and gives functions to the Health Protection Agency corresponding to the NBSB’s functions. It also enables the Health Protection Agency to be given any other functions that could have been given to the NBSB.