How to Change a Biological Safety Officer and Add or Remove an Alternate Biosafety Contact

It is the responsibility of the licence holder or biological safety officer to ensure their licence information is up to date.

You must notify the Public Health Agency of Canada within 30 days of a change to the designated biological safety officer. Refer to section 36(6) of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act for biological safety officer notification obligations.

You can initiate the change of biological safety officer and add or remove alternate biosafety contacts in the Biosecurity Portal. To help reduce the administrative burden, upon request the Centre for Biosecurity (the Centre) can now complete the change of biological safety officer as well as add or remove alternate biosafety contacts in the portal.

In order for the Centre to change your biological safety officer or alternate biosafety contact upon request, you must meet the 2 following criteria:

•         the new biological safety officer/alternate biosafety contacts must have an authenticated Biosecurity Portal account
•         the role of the new biological safety officer/alternate biosafety contacts must be confirmed by the licence holder (or biological safety officer) via email or phone call, or through a Change of Licence Holder Request submitted in the Biosecurity Portal.

If you have any questions, please contact the licensing program by email at licence.permis@phac-aspc.gc.ca or by phone at 613-957-1779.