Biohazard Containment and Safety

• Containment Level 3 Facilities: Design and Operation
  February 11-14, 2008 - Ottawa, Ontario

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 & 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 laboratory safety programs

Information we provide to the livestock sector and scientific community 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
  • Prion Standards
  • Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Plant Pests (Draft)
     
• Biosafety Advisory for Veterinary Facilities Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - Interim Guidelines