The Council on Birth Defect Prevention and Surveillance was created by Wisconsin Statute 253.12. The members of this council are appointed to four-year terms by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS). Members provide a wide variety of expertise and represent a number of interested parties. The Council meets four times per year and is charged with making recommendations to DHFS regarding the Wisconsin Birth Defects Registry (WBDR).

The Council met for the first time in February 2001. Meetings are held quarterly either by teleconference or as a half-day face-to-face meeting in Madison, Wisconsin.