News Release

Health Minister Tony Clement announces proposed legislation to further improve lab safety and biosecurity in Canada

April 29, 2008
For Immediate Release

OTTAWA – Health Minister Tony Clement today tabled legislation (Bill C-54) that strengthens bio-security and biosafety in Canada by establishing consistent safety requirements for laboratories working with human pathogens and toxins. 

“This proposed legislation will bring Canada into line with other developed nations,” said Minister Clement.  “It will also make Canada’s laboratory environment safer for our scientists and lab workers, and improve security for all Canadians.” 

The proposed Bill establishes a mandatory licensing system that will ensure the Government of Canada can more easily track what human pathogens exist, where they are, and who possesses them. It will also provide inspection powers to help ensure compliance with the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs), and that the legislation is applied properly and consistently across Canada.

Human pathogens are micro-organisms capable of causing disease in humans, such as anthrax, salmonella and influenza.  Toxins can be produced by or derived from such micro-organisms and these too are capable of causing disease in humans.

The laboratory work performed with human pathogens and toxins is very important for diagnosing the cause of diseases and for advancing science through research.  It ultimately improves the health of Canadians and can help save lives. 

The risk to Canadians posed by the presence of human pathogens and toxins in labs is low.  Laboratory safety guidelines exist and the laboratory community is committed to the safe handling and management of human pathogens and toxins as a part of their regular work.

The proposed legislation builds on existing importation regulations and establishes legal prohibitions and authorities designed to ensure all work done with human pathogens and toxins is carried out in as safe a manner as possible, consistent with international standards.  As well, the proposed legislation will help to guard Canadians against the low risk of an intentional release of these substances.

The proposed legislation mandates the application of existing Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs) in all Canadian labs that possess human pathogens and toxins.  The proposed legislation is the product of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s extensive nationwide consultations with stakeholders, including scientists, lab workers, academics and bio-security experts.

Further to requiring adherence to the LBGs, the proposed legislation prohibits the following:

• possession of certain listed human pathogens and/or toxins (smallpox is currently the one pathogen on this list);
• the intentional misuse of human pathogens and/or toxins to cause risk of harm; and
• any use of human pathogens and/or toxins without a licence.

This proposed legislation will bring Canada’s laboratory legislation more in line with our international partners, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries.

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Media Inquiries:

Laryssa Waler
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Health Canada
(613) 957-0200

Jacinthe Perras
Media Relations Officer
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 941-8189