The Centre for Biosecurity is Conducting Virtual Inspections

The Centre for Biosecurity is conducting virtual inspections of Risk Group 2 licences to monitor compliance under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and the Health of Animals Act.

Last year, the Public Health Agency of Canada diverted many resources, including biosecurity program inspectors, to the COVID-19 pandemic response, and many of these activities remain ongoing. In addition, inspector travel was cancelled due to federal and provincial government restrictions on travel. To continue compliance monitoring amid ongoing public health restrictions, inspectors will contact laboratories with Risk Group 2 licences to schedule virtual inspections. They will also provide information about how to prepare for these inspections, which will follow the same format as our on-site inspections.

The virtual inspection plan aims to minimize the impact on laboratories currently undertaking critical COVID-19 response efforts.

We carried out a virtual inspection pilot with 4 organizations that volunteered to assist us in developing our processes. We also consulted with the Canadian Public Health Laboratories Network and other regulators doing similar work, such as:

•         Health Canada
•         U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention