Dear Stakeholder:

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canadian Food InspectionAgency (CFIA) are pleased to announce the release of the Canadian BiosafetyStandards and Guidelines (CBSG), 1st edition. The CBSG provides thebiosafety requirements for the safe handling and storing of human andterrestrial animal pathogens, toxins and prions and is the product of theharmonization and update of the Agencies’ previous standards and guidelines.

The CBSG 1st edition will replace the following documents on July 5, 2013:

* Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines 3rd edition, 2004 (PHAC)
* Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities 1st edition, 1996(CFIA) 
* Containment Standards for Laboratories, Animal Facilities and PostMortem Rooms Handling Prion Disease Agents, 2005 (CFIA)

The CBSG website <http://canadianbiosafetystandards.collaboration.gc.ca/>
provides access to the electronic version of the CBSG, information on thedevelopment and implementation process, and frequently asked questions.Attached to this email you will also find a CBSG Implementation Guide andQuick User Guide to help you navigate through the implementation process andthe CBSG format.

The CBSG was developed in collaboration with an Expert WorkingGroup http://canadianbiosafetystandards.collaboration.gc.ca/erc-ce-eng.php (EWG) representing a wide range of sectors and areas of expertise. Input wasalso received and incorporated from a broad consultation process. We will continue consulting with our stakeholders as the CBSG second edition isdeveloped, which is scheduled for release in the fall of 2015. It willreflect the full implementation of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act andwill incorporate new information in the field of biocontainment engineering.

We thank you for your input and support on this project and are lookingforward to working with you through the transition process. If you have anyquestions regarding the implementation process, please email us at standards.normes@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Sincerely,

Sandra Fry
Director General
Centre for Biosecurity
Public Health Agency of Canada

J. William Anderson
Associate Vice President of Science
Canadian Food Inspection Agency