From Public Health Agency of Canada

Goal of the Consultation

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are launching a 75-day consultation period from April 1 to June 15, 2021 to seek feedback on the draft Canadian Biosafety Standard (CBS), third edition. The CBS sets out the physical containment requirements, operational practice requirements, and performance and verification testing requirements that must be met to safely handle or store human and terrestrial animal pathogens and toxins. The CBS, third edition will update and replace the CBS, second edition, originally published in 2015.

The CBS, third edition aims to:

• improve clarity in the requirements
• eliminate redundancies where possible
• underscore the biosafety and biosecurity intent of the requirements

Changes have also been made to some glossary terms and definitions to improve clarity and standardize the language throughout the document. Once published, persons that handle and store pathogens and toxins will be expected to meet the requirements outlined in the CBS, third edition, under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and the Health of Animals Act.

Who is the focus of this consultation?

This consultation is intended for:

• laboratory researchers and workers
• biosafety professionals
• biosecurity professionals
• licence holders and applicants for a Pathogen and Toxin Licence
• individuals who have imported an animal pathogen under an animal pathogen import permit
• members of the public with an interest in the subject matter

How to participate

The PHAC and the CFIA have prepared an online questionnaire to support this consultation process. We will be seeking your feedback on targeted sections of the draft CBS, third edition including:

• Glossary
• Chapter 3: Physical containment requirements
• Chapter 4: Operational practice requirements
• Chapter 5: Performance and verification testing requirements
• Appendix: Explanatory notes

The questionnaire also allows you to identify risks that are not being addressed in the draft CBS, third edition. You are not required to answer all questions, with the exception of the demographic questions at the beginning.

The questionnaire and instructions, along with a PDF version of the draft CBS, third edition, are available online. We recommend you review the draft CBS, third edition in advance of completing the questionnaire. An accompanying document, outlining the detailed changes, context, and anticipated impacts, is also available upon request by emailing PHAC.pathogens-pathogenes.ASPC@canada.ca. All the information gathered will be collected by a third party and will be shared anonymously with the PHAC and the CFIA once the consultation period is finished.

Related information (optional)

• Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and Regulations
• Health of Animals Act and Regulations
• Canadian Biosafety Standard, Second Edition
• Canadian Biosafety Handbook, Second Edition

Contact us

Email: PHAC.pathogens-pathogenes.ASPC@canada.ca

Public Health Agency of Canada
100 Colonnade Road
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9

Telephone: 613-957-1779
Fax: 613-941-0596