Bio Safety legislation

Legislation, standards and guidelines control the use, production and disposal of various biological agents.

Working with Biological Agents Affecting Humans

The Public Health Agency's Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and regulations will control all aspects of procurement,uses and disposal of bio-hazardous materials. Until the regulations are developed, the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines has been adopted as a suitable model to use in the interim.

Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines

Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines published by Public Health Agency Canada are used in the classification, use and disposal of bio-hazardous materials. These guidelines have been adopted by the UW Biosafety Committee to be followed by principal investigators and instructors when using bio-hazrdous materials or agents. The principal investigator or instructor are responsible for insuring these guidelines are followed by their students, employees or visitors.

Importation Of Biological Agents Affecting Humans

Public Health Agency Canada Human Pathogens Importation Regulations act and regulations control the importation of human pathogens into Canada and require that adequate facilities exist for proper laboratory handling and containment of these pathogens. These regulations allow Public Health Agency Canada to assess, control and manage the risk of inadvertent transmission of communicable disease caused by imported pathogens.

Applications to import biological agents affecting humans are to be approved by the Biosafety Committee, signed by the Biosafety Officer before forwarding to Public Health Agency Canada by the researcher.

Importation Of Biological Agents Affecting Animals

Under the Health of Animals Act and Regulations, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), has the legislative authority to control the use of imported animal pathogens and pathogens associated with reportable animal diseases. CFIA requires permits for the importation of all animal pathogens and establishes the conditions under which animal pathogens will be maintained and work carried out.

Applications to import animal pathogens are to be approved by the Biosafety Committee before forwarding to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Transportation Of Biological Agents

All bio-hazardous materials must be shipped in accordance with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act (TDG) and Regulations.

Waste Management

Ontario 's Environmental Protection Act and Regulations govern the handling and disposal of bio-hazardous waste. To ensure compliance all bio-hazrdous Risk Group 2 and higher waste at UW shall be disposed of using the University of Waterloo Environmental Safety Facility.

Laboratory Animals

All aspects of the proposed use of animals in research and the operational procedures for the care and maintenance of animals must satisfy:

Animals for Research Act
Guidelines for the Care and Use of Experimental Animals by the Canadian Council on Animal Care
University of Waterloo 's Guidelines for the Care and Use of Animals in Research and Teaching.
Work with animals exposed to or infected with biological agents is subject to approval by the Biosafety Committee.

Human Research Facilities

The conduct of research involving humans is subject to:
Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS) and may, where appropriate, be subject to other legislation and policies, such as:

The institution’s own policy on research involving humans;
The Quebec Civil Code;
Provisional and federal legislation on privacy, confidentiality, intellectual property,
competence and other areas;
Canada Food and Drug Act and Regulations;
Guidelines and policies of the Therapeutics Product Directorate of Health Canada;
Relevant laws, regulations and/or policies of other countries, where research is to be conducted in those countries;
Good Clinical Practices: Consolidated Guidelines for clinical trials sponsored by industry, published by the International Conference on Harmonization