NIBSC is a centre of the Health Protection Agency. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is an independent body that protects the health and well-being of everyone in England and Wales.

The Agency plays a critical role in protecting people from infectious diseases and in preventing harm when hazards involving chemicals, poisons or radiation occur. We also prepare for new and emerging threats, such as a bio-terrorist attack or virulent new strains of disease. The Agency takes its lead from the Department of Health.

http://www.hpa.org.uk/

The Institute is primarily concerned with ensuring that biological medicines developed for the UK market meet appropriate standards of quality.

There is also a very strong international dimension to its work, through interactions with WHO and with the European Community. This provides the double benefit of fulfilling part of the UK's commitment to supporting world health, but also of helping to ensure that development of European and global health policies, which have major implications for the UK, are shaped taking account of UK national interests.