Updated Biosafety Directive: New and Emerging Influenza A Viruses (Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae)

The Public Health Agency of Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, has revised the Biosafety Directive for New and Emerging Influenza A Viruses (Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae) (Influenza A Directive) to align with the Canadian Biosafety Standard, Third Edition, which came into effect on April 1, 2023. The updated Influenza A Directive was published November 15, 2024.

The Influenza A Directive outlines risk-based requirements and recommendations for facilities where new and emerging influenza A viruses are handled and stored. This Directive is a condition of licence for facilities where work is conducted with Risk Group 2, Risk Group 3, and Risk Group 4 influenza A viruses. We also strongly recommend that you follow the Directive if you handle biological material that may contain influenza A viruses in facilities such as diagnostic laboratories to ensure that you implement adequate and up-to-date biosafety and biosecurity measures.

We have made the following changes to the Influenza A Directive:

•        updated content throughout to align with the latest information from the Canadian Biosafety Standard, Third Edition, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and scientific literature
•        customized Canadian Biosafety Standard, Third Edition explanatory notes to provide influenza A-specific considerations for the operational practices described in the Directive
•        updated the preface, glossary terms, and formatting to align with the Canadian Biosafety Standard, Third Edition

If you have any questions or concerns about the updated Influenza A Directive, please email pathogens.pathogenes@phac-aspc.gc.ca or call 613-957-1779.