Recently, much public attention has been given to the potential impact of hazardous materials to effect criminal or terrorist goals and objectives. The FBI is the lead Federal agency for response to events involving the threatened or actual illicit use of biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear materials, so- called "weapons of mass destruction." The FBI is responsible for leading crisis resolution and as investigating incidents through to prosecution. Science, technology and medicine necessarily play a critical role in the successful response and resolution of such events. The FBI Laboratory is evolving applications and research programs which focus on the detection, identification, analysis, handling, transport and storage of hazardous materials and related physical evidence. These purposefully complement the efforts of other key Federal scientific and medical agencies. Although various Federal, state and local programs began only considering humans and their environments, animal and plant agriculture are being realized as important economic and political targets of bioterrorism. Current and future issues and directions will be presented.