The Federal government (USDA and CDC/HHS) classifies certain biological agents or toxins that are deemed a severe threat to public, animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products as Select Agents or Select Toxins. Any possession, use, transfer or shipment of these materials is strictly regulated. For the most up to date listing please check http://www.selectagents.gov/SelectAgentsandToxinsList.html.

Work with agents or toxins that are part of the Federal Select Agent Program requires special approval before any such work can begin. Anyone considering work with any of these materials must first contact the Biosafety Office to initiate the approval process. This will involve personnel security clearances and other paperwork, medical clearance, and significant additional trainings on the Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Incident Response Plans.  The whole process can take several months to complete, so it is important to begin the process well in advance.

This training can be scheduled by contacting the Biosafety Office.