Importing and Biocontainment

"Importing" means that you are bringing something into Canada from another country. The Canadian Border Services Agency manages items that pass into and out of our country. They will check each item's documentation for its description and determine from that description if the item requires an import permit from the Canadian Government. Two of the government agencies involved in the importation of pathogens, animals and other items into Canada are the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Some of the items listed below require handling at a prescribed containment level. The item may be a pathogen, a toxin, or a substance positively containing a pathogen, or a substance which may very likely contain a pathogen or a substance which may possibly contain a pathogen. In some cases, biosafety containment is not prescribed however the Biosafety Office can help you navigate the import process initially so that you may import your items directly in the future. Please be advised that the Biosafety Office does not handle all import permits, only those that require biosafety oversight.

For those items which have always required containment and import permits - the process has changed twice over the last year. The first change was the combined Human and Terrestrial Animal Pathogens CL2 checklist and import permits. The second change is the creation of the new Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines. As a result of new guidelines an even newer CL2 checklist has been published only this week (July 22, 2013).

Failure to obtain an import permit will have consequences, since an import permit cannot be obtained for a package that is already on Canadian soil at the border. The receiver may choose to send the package back to the sender or in the case of perishables, the sender may choose to have the package disposed at the border.

 

Customs Office at McMaster

McMaster has a customs office designed to facilitate import and export of goods both to and from the University. When you receive import permits or any documentation that you require for the border, please forward a copy to the customs office so that they may be prepared to receive the shipment at the border. For customs issues that are unrelated to biosafety and containment, please contact Jan Yeo or John Bentley by e-mail.

Human and Terrestrial Animal Pathogens

These imports are handled by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

• Risk group 1 human pathogens do not require an import permit
• Risk group 1 terrestrial animal pathogens do not require an import permit
• Items requiring containment level 1 precautions for containment of potential human and terrestrial animal pathogens (e.g. BSL1 cell lines) do not require an import permit.
• Items that do not require an import permit, but their description may lead one to believe that a BSL2 or higher pathogen is present (e.g. "Lentivirus Plasmid Kit" or "genomic DNA fragments from Yersinia pestis") will benefit from having a Notice Letter accompany the shipment. The Notice Letter can be obtained by completing the Statement of Status Process
• Statement of Status process

 

• Risk group 2 and above human pathogens require an import permit.
• Risk group 2 and above terrestrial animal pathogens require an import permit.
• Toxins require an import permit.
• Items requiring containment level 2 and above precautions (e.g. BSL2 cell lines) require an import permit.
• In order to obtain an import permit for the above, a valid "compliance letter" must be in place. The compliance letter is obtained after successful completion of an audit of the laboratory, based on the CL2 Checklist, where controlled activities with RG2 pathogens or items are carried out.
• The newest CL2 checklist - requires a laboratory audit which is carried out by the Biosafety Auditor (Carol Carte)
• The harmonized import permit for human and terrestrial animal pathogens

 

Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Animal Pathogens

These imports are handled by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

• If you are importing aquatic animal pathogens, your containment laboratory must comply with the Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Aquatic Pathogens
• If you are importing aquatic animals, please contact the local CFIA Animal Health office (Hamilton) 905-572-2201 for guidance.

 

Plant Pests, Plants, Soil and Related Matter

These imports are handled by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and all of them require an import permit.

• Importing plant pests requires compliance with Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Plant Pests
• Importing plants requires a risk assessment. Please contact the Biosafety Office before proceeding to import any plants or plant material
• Importing soil requires that your containment laboratory must meet the phytosanitary requirements listed directive D-95-26. This involves arranging for an inspection by local CFIA inspectors.
• For questions regarding importing and containment with respect to plant pathogens, plants, soil and related matter, email plantimportationsvegetaux@inspection.gc.ca

 

Archeaological Items

Archeaological remains are those which were not previously alive ie not fossils. They may be pottery, metals, wood or other items. The concern for importing these items comes from their propensity to contain soil and plant pathogens found in soil. In this case it is imperative that the artifacts do not contain soil or plant material.

There may also be issues of "cultural property" with respect to certain archaeological artifacts. Please contact the Canadian Border Services Agency before importing an archaeological artifact.

Paleontological Items

Paleontological remains are those which were previously alive ie are fossils. The concern for importing these items comes from the ability for fossils to contain live human or terrestrial animal pathogens, soil and plant pathogens found in soil.

• If you are importing human skeletal remains, the Quarantine Act applies. Please follow the guidance found in memorandum D19-9-3. Our contact person at the Canadian Border Services Agency with respect to importing human archeological/paleontological remains is Martha Nino and her direct line is 1-613-948-4836 – “Commercial Border Services Program”.
• If you are importing a human remains, cadaveurs or other human specimens, the Anatomy Act and the Coroner's Act may also apply.
• If you are importing any type of animal remains, please contact the local CFIA Animal Health Office (Hamilton) 905-572-2201 for guidance.

 

Animal Products, By Products, Sperm, Embryos and Feeds Containing Animal Products

These imports are handled by CFIA. Please contact the local CFIA Animal Health Office (Hamilton) 905-572-2201 for guidance.

You may also contact veterinarian Dr. Susan Wray (Program Specialist - Import - CFIA - Guelph Office) at 519-826-2810 or fax 519-837-9771

Organisms That Do Not Require an Import Permit

Specific list of organisms that do not require an import permit

Purchasing BSL2 Organisms or Cell Lines from ATCC for in vitro work

Must be done via Cedarlane who first imports the material from ATCC under a bulk permit, then "transfers" them to Canadian end-users.

When you submit a purchase order to Cedarlane for an ATCC product, you will receive an email with the following attachments:

• CDR 111 - PHAC/CFIA End-User Notification and Confirmation Letter
• Waiver CDR 160 - Authorization for Cedarlane to access to PHAC/CFIA checklists
• MSDS sheets for the product
• CL2 checklist - this is not required if you already have a valid PHAC compliance letter
• ATCC Material Transfer Agreement - an agreement between Cedarlane and ATCC - applies to the end user of the material

 

A similar process may be in place for any Canadian Distributor of non-Canadian sourced BSL2 or higher pathogens