Compliance and Enforcement
The Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA) and supporting Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations (HPTR) establish a safety and security regime to protect the health and safety of the public against risks posed by human pathogens and toxins. The Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency) administers and enforces the HPTA through the Centre for Biosecurity (the Centre).
PHAC is also responsible for the administration of certain provisions of the Health of Animals Act and Health of Animals Regulations (HAA/HAR). It issues import permits and transfer authorizations for most terrestrial animal pathogens (excluding aquatic animals, bees, invertebrates and pathogens that cause emerging or foreign animal diseases).
Compliance and Enforcement Policy
The Centre for Biosecurity's Compliance and Enforcement Policy outlines the Centre's approach to Compliance and Enforcement and describes the roles and responsibilities of the Centre and regulated parties under the HPTA, HPTR, and the HAA/HAR.
The main objectives of the Centre are to manage the risk and increase compliance with the Act and Regulations using the most appropriate level of intervention. The Centre has adopted a graduated approach to non-compliance, where the first activity undertaken is usually "milder"; however, should this activity prove ineffective the Centre will move forward with the next activity in the continuum and so forth. In general, the regulatory minor enforcement actions taken by the Centre ensure that the regulated party comply with our legislation and avoid a more intrusive intervention. The Centre for Biosecurity's Compliance Activities and Enforcement Continuum provides an overview of these progressive activities employed by the Centre to achieve a coherent Compliance and Enforcement Program.