 It was founded on 4 July 1998 by the Decree-Law 183/98.Any citizen with accredited degree and professional activity in biology (or other specific related fields covered by its statutes) within Portugal, is required by law to be affiliated with the Ordem dos Biólogos.The Ordem dos Biólogos is the successor of the Associação Portuguesa de Biólogos (APB) founded on 20 April 1987.