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RS06: Biosafety

Draft RS06: Biosafety will replace VIU policy 31.04 Biosafety and its associated procedure.

The purpose of this policy is to protect employees, students, the community, and the environment from the risks which may arise in the handling of biohazardous agents, by ensuring that the elements of the biosafety program are implemented prior to work being conducted with biohazardous agents.

Consultation on the draft policy is now closed. The consultation took place from December 16, 2024 until 4 pm on January 24, 2025. The policy may be updated based on the feedback received. The Policy Office may also make minor changes to formatting/wording for consistency. Consultation feedback and policy changes will be outlined in the consultation report. The consultation report will be provided to the Board of Governors and posted on this policy page.

We anticipate this draft policy will be provided to the March 31, 2025 Board of Governors meeting for approval. Check back on the RS06: Biosafety policy page for updates as this policy moves through the Board of Governors policy approval process.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. 

The institution is required to follow applicable laws and standards related to the handling of biohazardous materials. A Board of Governors-level policy manages risk for the institution.

VIU’s existing policy was adapted into the new template, with new sections added where required. The associated procedures were removed from the policy. The procedures will become part of the Terms of Reference/procedures for the Institutional Biosafety Committee. They were de-coupled from the policy to allow the procedures to be more easily updated as requirements change, and because they are highly operational in nature.

Table of Concordance: Policy 

Section – New Policy

Notes

Purpose

Taken from the existing “Institutional Commitment to Biosafety and Biosecurity” Section

Scope and Application

New, based on comparators

Policy
  • Takes content from all existing sections of the policy          
  • Changes “Responsibilities” to “Institutional Responsibilities” to distinguish from the new “Roles and Responsibilities” section 

Considerations

New

Roles and Responsibilities
  • Defines roles for administrators named in the policy.
  • Takes the responsibilities of VIU community members from the existing policy
  • Takes the role of the IBC from the “Authority” section of the procedure 

Reporting

New

Review

New, added to reflect shorter initial review so that research policies do not all renew the same year

Related Documents

Takes the legislation listed in “Institutional Commitment to Biosafety and Biosecurity” as well as the documents listed in the “Related Policies” section of the current policy

Revision History

New

Appendix A: Definitions

Taken from existing procedure

Removed

  • Provost & VP, Academic under “Executive Responsibility:” In the original policy, the AVP, Research and Graduate Studies is listed under “Administrative Responsibility” and the Provost under “Executive Responsible.” As the scope of the policy is beyond research and teaching, covering “research, teaching, operations, or community service,” the “Executive Responsibility” was given to the President. The AVP, Research and Graduate Studies remains the “Policy Owner.”

  • “Penalties for Violation of Policy:” Some content was removed as it is covered in the “Roles and Responsibilities” of the Biosafety Officer and is more process-oriented.