Update to the Australia Group’s Common Control List of Dual Use Biological Equipment

The Australia Group (the Group) is an informal forum of countries that seeks to ensure that exports don’t contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons. It does this through the harmonisation of export controls.

The Group establishes “control lists.” Member countries are expected to deny export licence requests for items on the lists when there is a concern that the items might be used in a chemical or biological weapons program. The dual-use biological equipment and related technology list contains controls on items that can be used for both peaceful research and biological weapons production, such as:

•         fermenters
•         containment facilities
•         freeze-drying equipment, and
•         aerosol testing chambers

The Group has recently modified the controls on:

•         isolators (item 7)
•         nucleic acid assemblers and synthesizers (item 10)

Global Affairs Canada (Global Affairs) will incorporate these changes in the next version of A guide to Canada’s export control list. If you wish to export these items, you will need an export permit from Global Affairs.

For questions on export controls and how to apply for export permits, please contact tie.reception@international.gc.ca.

For questions on policy, contact expctrlpol@international.gc.ca.

You can also consult Global Affairs’ export controls website at www.exportcontrols.gc.ca or contact them at +1 343-203-4331.