In the context of the HPTA, every HPTA licence applicant should designate an individual as a biological safety officer (BSO).
The role of the BSO is to promote and monitor compliance with the provisions of the Act and the regulations. This involves:
- Making sure that every person who conducts controlled activities authorized by the licence has been properly trained and that their training has been documented.
- Conducting regular inspections and communicating non compliances so they can be corrected.
- Assisting in the development and maintenance of the biosafety manual and standard operating procedures related to biosafety and biosecurity
The BSO also communicates with the Minister on behalf of the license holder; this involves informing of any inadvertent possession of a human pathogen or toxin or any deviation from the expected transport and acquisition of human pathogens or toxins.
The individual assigned as BSO must have the following qualifications:
- Knowledge of microbiology appropriate to the risks associated with the controlled activities authorized by the licence;
- Knowledge of the provisions of the Act, regulations and, applicable legislation;
- Knowledge of the applicable biosafety and biosecurity policies, standards, and practices appropriate to the risks associated with the controlled activities authorized by the licence.
According to the HPTA regulations the BSO has the power to require any person who conducts controlled activities authorized by the licence to provide them with any records that are necessary to assist them in carrying out their functions.
The intention of this article is to summarize the section about licences of the HPTA. For more information please refer to the complete HPTA document.
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