The Approved List of Biological Agents provides the classification of biological agents as referred to in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).
It is approved by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) and is relevant to risk assessment for work with biological agents and the application of appropriate control measures.
The approved list is for use by:
- people who deliberately work with biological agents, especially those in research, development, teaching or diagnostic laboratories and industrial processes, or
- those who work with humans or animals who are (or are suspected to be) infected with such an agent
ACDP, in consultation with other experts, periodically reviews the list to consider any new evidence to support the addition of new agents or any changes to the classification of agents already listed.
This sixth edition of the Approved List includes the following changes:
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SARS-CoV-2 has been reclassified as an HG2 agent
-
Poliovirus serotypes 1 and 3 have been reclassified as HG3 agents
- corrections and clarifications of existing classifications
If you are working with biological agents, it is important that you review the updated Approved List for any changes to ensure that you continue to implement the appropriate control measures in accordance with the hazard group classification.
You can view the sixth edition of the Approved List of Biological Agents on the HSE website.
Additional guidance on the classification of existing permitted activities undertaken with genetically modified (GM) SARS-CoV-2 following the hazard group change will be shared in a forthcoming ebulletin.
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