ACCESS TO HHS/USDA- SELECT/RESTRICTED BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

Subject:	Approved by:	Date:
ACCESS TO HHS/USDA- SELECT/RESTRICTED BIOLOGICAL AGENTS	Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)	November 18, 2003

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to restrict unauthorized access to select biological agents and toxins, high consequence animal pathogens, and plant pathogens designated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as mandated by Public Law 107 -188, "Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002." This policy also applies to any other
microorganisms and toxins used for research, clinical, or diagnostic purposes that are listed in final regulations that result from interim rules 42 CFR 73 (December 13, 2002),
9 CFR 121 (December 13, 2002) and 7 CFR 331 (December 13, 2002).

Scope

This policy applies to all facilities and employees at the Storrs and regional campuses where these agents may be possessed, stored, used, received, or transferred.

Description of Requirements

These agents shall be maintained under locked or secured conditions at all times.
In order to assure the highest level of security, oversight, and control of these agents, access to freezers, refrigerators, and any other storage area(s) shall be restricted to the Principal Investigator (PI) directly responsible for the agent(s), or those expressly authorized by the PI. In the event of an emergency, the Institutional Biosafety Officer (who is the Responsible Official (RO), or designee, shall have a current list of emergency contact telephone numbers.
Each PI is responsible for the contents of his/her storage area(s) for biological agents, which must be listed under the PI's Biological Agent Use Registration (BAUR) filed with the Biosafety Section of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S). As such, the PI shall take all necessary measures to ensure that no unknown or inappropriate materials are introduced into the area(s) or equipment.
Each PI shall conduct an annual inventory of his/her biological agent storage area(s) and promptly notify the Biosafety Officer (486-3613) if any unusual or abnormal contents are found. PIs should provide a copy of their biological inventory to Biosafety for record keeping purposes.
Biological Safety should be notified whenever equipment containing biological agents fails. Each PI should amend their biological agent inventory accordingly, and provide a copy of the inventory to Biosafety for record keeping purposes.