Given the availability of novel biologic agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), various national scientific societies have developed specific recommendations in order to assist rheumatologists in prescribing these drugs. The Italian Society for Rheumatology (Società Italiana di Reumatologia, SIR) decided to update its recommendations, and, to this end, a systematic literature review was performed and the evidence derived from it was discussed and summarized as expert opinions. Levels of evidence and strength of recommendations were reported. The recommendations reported refer to the safety of biologic agents and are intended to help prescribing rheumatologists to optimise the use of biologic agents in patients with RA seen in everyday practice; they are not to be considered as a regulatory rule.