Biosafety and biosecurity

As of March 26, 2026, the Public Health Agency of Canada amended the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act.

Learn more about the new provisions coming into force immediately.

Biosafety training, pathogen hazards, exposure reporting, licences, regulating laboratories or containment zones

Services and information

How the Public Health Agency of Canada implements the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act

Modernization of the Act, key amendments in effect, guidance to support compliance

Canadian biosafety standards and guidelines

Requirements for safe handling of human and animal pathogens, toxins and plant pests in laboratories and other containment zones

Pathogen safety data sheets

Technical information on specific human pathogens, their hazardous properties and laboratory safety

ePATHogen database and Registry of Human Pathogens and Toxins

Searchable database of biological material with regulatory information, a subset is the Registry under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act

Training

Resources for regulated parties, including e-learning on biosafety and biosecurity principles and practices

Licences and permits for pathogens and toxins

Apply for human pathogens and toxins licences and animal pathogen import permits

Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA) Security Clearance

Information related to the HPTA Security Clearance Program

About the Centre for Biosecurity

About our work and what we do

Compliance and enforcement

Our approach to compliance and enforcement of Canada's pathogen and toxin acts and regulations

An Analytical Approach: Biosafety and Biosecurity Oversight Framework

A tool to strengthen global biosafety and biosecurity