Biohazard Containment and Safety

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency works with Agency scientists and technical experts to establish the biocontainment levels, procedures and protocols that are needed to work safely with animal and zoonotic pathogens, chemical hazards, and plant pests of quarantine significance, and to protect laboratory staff, the Canadian public, and the environment. The Agency, through the Office of Biohazard Containment and Safety, also coordinates the laboratory safety programs and provides guidance and support to the Agency's occupational health and medical surveillance programs.

Office of Biohazard Containment and Safety activities include:

• development and enforcement of Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities
• issuing import permits for animal pathogens
• facility certification for the importation of animal pathogens
• managing CFIA's laboratory safety programs
• providing advice for classification of Infectious Substances (6.2.) as per the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations

Information we provide includes:

• Animal Pathogen Import Program
  • Checklists and Forms
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• Disease Agent Information
• Biocontainment and Certification Program
  • Certification Process
  • Checklists and Forms
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• Biocontainment Standards
  • Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities
  • Containment Standards for Laboratories, Animal Facilities and Post Mortem Rooms Handling Prion Disease Agents
  • Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Plant Pests
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Draft - Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Aquatic Animal Pathogens - comment period is now over
  • Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Containment Standard
• Biosafety Advisory for Veterinary Facilities Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - Interim Guidelines
• * Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)

* As indicated in Section 2.36 of the TDG Regulations, assistance for classifying infectious substances may be obtained from the Director, Office of Laboratory Security, Public Health Agency of Canada, or from the Director, Biohazard Containment and Safety, Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Please contact Lisa Young (lisa.young@inspection.gc.ca).