New York legal term
Biological agent in New York Criminal Law
Current through 2026 New York legislative session
In New York criminal law, “Biological agent” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the New York criminal code.
What does “Biological agent” mean in New York criminal law?
"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 micro-organism, 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. 6. (N.Y. Penal Law § 490.05)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Criminal possession of a chemical weapon or biological weapon in the first degree
- Criminal possession of a chemical weapon or biological weapon in the third degree
- Criminal use of a chemical weapon or biological weapon in the first degree
- Criminal use of a chemical weapon or biological weapon in the third degree
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.