Biosecurity in Emerging Life Sciences Technologies, a Canadian Public Health Perspective

Driven by innovation, science and technology are continually evolving. Over the past several years, the global scientific community and the world have had the opportunity to see firsthand the significant strides that have been made in the area of life science research, and the corresponding ethical, safety, and security questions that arise as a result of this work. The idea that well-intended research could be used for nefarious purposes is not new. The “dual-use” potential of advancing technologies has driven the dialog in a variety of sectors, including biological, chemical, and nuclear. In Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) administers the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA), the principle legislative tool overseeing the biosafety and biosecurity of activities involving human pathogens and toxins in Canada. The HPTA currently requires all persons conducting controlled activities (possessing, handling, using, producing, storing, permitting access to, transferring, importing, exporting, releasing, or otherwise abandoning) with human pathogens and toxins to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of the public. Proposed regulations (Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations – HPTR) to support full implementation of the HPTA (in 2015) were published online for public consultation until September 4, 2014 (http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/ 2014/2014-06-21/html/reg2-eng.php) and will be made final over the coming year. The HPTA framework has been developed through extensive consultation with regulated parties in order to keep the public safe and secure, while not inhibiting responsible scientific innovation and critical outbreak response activities. The key elements of the proposed framework are outlined here.