The Parliament of Canada has passed Bill C-11, the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA), which contains prohibitions and requirements relating to the full range of laboratory activities. A new federal program and regulatory framework will be created based on requirements of the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs).

What does the HPTA mean to researchers?

Presently the HPTA has been approved but the regulations have not yet been written. This means that any institution or group working with Risk Group 2 or higher organisms is required to register under HPTA. UBC has done this on behalf of all UBC-affiliated researchers. This registration includes all the buildings in which RG2 and RG3 organisms are being handled and stored.

At this time no action is required on the part of UBC researchers. If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact one of the following members of the Biosafety Program:

• Bruce Anderson  604.822.7596
• Stephanie Thomson  604.822.9527

Future Implementation Phases for the Act

The second phase will require extensive consultations with affected stakeholders in order to develop the program and regulatory framework. The consultations will engage on such matters as:

• Licenses: what specific procedures will be required for the different risk groups of human pathogens, or toxins
• sSecurity screening: for whom and for what Risk Group 3 and Risk Group 4 human pathogens and toxins
• Inventories: what level of detail and content would be required for which human pathogens and toxins
• Transfers, imports and exports: what would be the basic steps to follow for different risk groups of human pathogens or toxins
• Biological safety officers: what specific qualifications and training will be required, and what will be their duties and functions

Please check the HPTA website for more information about the consultation process.