Containment Facilities

1. What is required from you?

You must: 

  1. Ensure that laboratory practices meet PC1 or PC2 at a minimum - this includes:
    1. wearing of laboratory coats,
    2. keeping under bench areas clear,
    3. not storing cultures long-term on benches.
  2. Ensure that waste streams are properly treated -all GMOs, and supporting media must be chemical sterilised or autoclaved before disposal. 
  3. Keep laboratories locked after hours 
  4. Store GMOs inside labs 
  5. Not transfer GMOs from SBS to other institutions or faculties por overseas without prior permission from MAF inspector - see David 
  6. Report any incident/accident immediately to your supervisor and the Operator. 
  7. Ask your supervisor if you are unsure of any compliance issue. 

1.1 Introduction

Under the HSNO Act, all development, importation, field trail and release of GMOs in New Zealand must have prior approval from the Environmental Risk Management Authority.

The University of Auckland Biological Safety Committee (UABSC) has delegated authority to assess and approve applications to develop and import low risk GMOs in containment.

You are referred to a website specifically established to guide you on discharging your responsibilities with regard to GMOs.

1.2 Containment Within Laboratories 

All work with GMOs is approved by ERMA or the UABSC on two conditions:
  • The work is conducted in laboratories that meet the Physical Containment conditions defined by AS/NZ 2243.3 "Safety in Laboratories. Part III Microbiology" and modified by ERMA/MAF Standard 154.03.02.
  • The laboratory is managed as or is part of a larger Containment Facility as defined by MAF Standards.

1.3 Physical Containment Conditions (AS/NZ2243.3) 

All work with GMOs is approved by ERMA or the UABSC with the proviso that the laboratory meets the Physical Containment conditions defined by AS/NZ 2243.3 and that work practices comply with the requirements of this standard. 

In the vast majority of cases this means that work is to be conducted in laboratories that meet the requirements of PC1 or PC2 Containment. 

PC1 and PC2 Containment requirements will also specify the work practices in each type of laboratory. All laboratories in which GMO work is conducted will undergo audit both internally and externally every 6 months to ensure continuing compliance with AS/NZ 2243.3. 

The requirements for PC1 and PC2 Containment are listed in Sections 3 and 4 of this manual. 

1.4 Containment Facilities (MAF standards 154.03.02 & 154.03.03) 

ERMA has directed that all GMOs must not only be contained within laboratories meeting the requirements of PC1 or PC2, but that these laboratories must be part of a larger MAF approved Containment Facility which must comply with the appropriate MAF Standard.

The University of Auckland has grouped its laboratories into two such Containment Facilities:

  • The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Containment Facility
  • The School of Biological Sciences Containment Facility.

Each of these Containment Facilities has at least 40 laboratories in which GMO work can be conducted. 

To comply with MAF Standards, each Containment facility must have:

  • An Operator who is the Manager of the Facility. The Operator can delegate day-today management to other named persons but who must ultimately take responsibility for the facility and the GMOs contained within it.
  • A system to ensure the requirements of AS/NZ 2243.3 are met.
  • A system for delegation of authority.
  • A system to ensure that all staff and students are adequately trained.
  • A reporting system that ensures that any accidents and incidents are reported rapidly to the Operator.
  • A system for ensuring all waste streams are appropriately treated.
  • Security systems to prevent unauthorised access to GMOs.
  • A record keeping system for ensuring that all laboratories have correct ERMA approvals and that where necessary inventories are maintained.
  • An internal audit system to ensure that laboratories comply with AS/NZ 2243.3 as well as ensuring that records are kept up-to-date.

1.5 MAF Supervision

All Containment Facilities must comply with prescribed MAF Standards in order to be established. Containment Facilities are audited every 6 months by the MAF Supervisor in order to ensure they remain compliant with AS/NZ 2243.3 and the relevant MAF Standard. Provided each Containment Facility passes its 6 monthly audit, it will be re-approved for the next 6 months. 

Every Containment facility is under direct MAF supervision. All GMOs transferred in and out of Containment Facilities must have prior written approval from the MAF Supervisor. A copy of the approval must be sent to the Operator (See Section 2.3) 

In the event that a Containment facility fails to meet all the MAF requirements, the MAF Supervisor may issue a Corrective Action Request which directs the Operator to make the necessary changes. If these Corrective Action Requests are not acted upon, MAF may direct that the Containment Facility cease to operate. At that point all GMO work in the Containment Facility would have to cease.