Shipping & Transport of Biological Materials

 

The shipping and transport of dangerous goods is a highly regulated activity. A large number of people will handle or be in proximity to your package as it travels to its destination. All that protects these people from any hazards within the package is the information you provide on or with your package and the packaging itself.  

 

Training requirement:

 

You must have a training certificate from UF EH&S to ship biological materials. See our list of scheduled classes http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/Bio/default.asp. Participants will receive a certificate of training.

 

Training is valid for 2 years and is a federal requirement & is designed to protect yourself, your co-workers, and the public - drivers, airline staff, crew, pilots, passengers, and package recipients.

All individuals involved in the transport of dangerous goods or the preparation of dangerous goods for transport must abide by the International Air Transport / International Civil Aviation and Dept. of Transportation regulations.

 

More reasons to get training:

1. Successful shipments -

Carriers or Federal regulators may open, delay, or reject your shipment if it’s not correct.

2. Penalties for violations -

                        Civil penalties $250 –$27,500 per violation per day

                        Criminal penalties (willful violations) up to $500K, 5 yr in jail

 

At class, you’ll learn about:

 

  1. Classifying the material – Is it regulated? Is it forbidden for transport?
  2. Identifying the material – select the proper shipping name
  3. Choosing the right packaging
  4. Packaging it correctly
  5. Marking & Labeling the shipment correctly
  6. Supplying additional required documentation – dangerous goods declaration forms
  7. Making shipping arrangements – i.e. permits, customs documents for overseas shipments
  8. Transporting things safely around UF – hand carrying & vehicle transport

 

 

Biological Material subject to shipping & transport regulations:

 

In the context of shipping regulations, “Dangerous Goods” are “Articles or substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment  & which are shown in the list of dangerous goods in the Regulations or which are classified according to these Regulations.” (49 CFR Parts 100-185 & IATA 1.0).

 

Biological materials that fall under this definition include:

 

Biological toxins

Infectious substances

Diagnostic specimens

Biomedical waste

Cultures

Genetically Modified Organisms

 

Other biological material that may be regulated via state or federal permits:

 

Plants,

Plant pests

Insects

Cell cultures

Live animals

 

Items that frequently accompany shipments of biological material are also regulated:

 

Dry ice

Environmental pollutants (formalin)

Alcohol

Fixative solutions

  

A word about permits:

Federal or state permits may be required for some biological materials. See below or contact us at 392-1591 for more information. Permits are issued in the name of the PI who is required to keep them updated and current as necessary; the Biosafety Office does not hold any “centralized” permits.

 

  1. CDC Import Permit http://www.cdc.gov/od/eaipp/ for import of etiological agents causing disease in humans, non-sterilized human or animal tissues/fluids known or suspected to contain disease agents, hosts/vectors known or suspected to contain disease agents.

 

  1. USDA/APHIS Veterinary Permit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/ needed for import of materials derived from (livestock/poultry) animals or exposed to (livestock/poultry) animal-source materials, including: animal tissues, blood, cells or cell lines of livestock or poultry origin, RNA/DNA extracts, hormones, enzymes, monoclonal antibodies for IN VIVO use in non-human species, certain polyclonal antibodies and antisera, bulk shipments of test kit reagents, arthropod vectors of livestock diseases, and microorganisms infectious to livestock including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi.

     
  2. Interstate movement of microorganisms infectious to livestock/poultry including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi, arthropod vectors of livestock/poultry diseases, and tissues, blood, serum, or cells from known infected livestock/poultry.

 

Note: A courtesy letter to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Animal Industry http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/contact.shtml is required for possession or use of any of the State of Florida reportable animal diseases http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/main/ani_diseases_main.shtml.

 

  1. USDA/APHIS Plant Protection & Quarantine Permit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/ is needed for import or interstate movement of plant pests, plant pathogens, biological control agents, bees, plant pest diagnostic laboratories, soil microbe isolation laboratories, federal noxious weeds and parasitic plants.

 

  1. USDA Biotechnology Regulatory Services Notification or Permit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/fieldtesting_importation.html for the import, interstate movement, or field release of genetically engineered plants, arthropods, and plant-associated microorganisms.

 

  1. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry Permit http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/plt/entnempath.html  for the import into Florida of: arthropods, plant pathogens, nematodes, noxious weeds, genetically altered (insects, nematodes, plants, plant pests) organisms, biological control agents.

     
  2. The transfer of Select Infectious Agents and Toxins is also regulated by the USDA/CDC. Each shipment of listed agents must be registered with the USDA/CDC through a responsible facility official at both the shipping and receiving entities. Please contact EH&S Biosafety before sending or requesting any Select Agents. The current list of Select Agents and Toxins can be found on in this manual or on our website at http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/Bio/select.htm.

     
  3. Export of Etiologic Agents of Humans, Animals, Plants and Related Materials is regulated by the US Department of Commerce, Dept. of State, and Dept. of the Treasury. A wide variety of etiologic agents of human, plant and animal diseases, including genetic material, and products which might be used for culture or production biological agents, will require an export license. Information may be obtained by calling the Biosafety Office at 352-392-1591. Export to certain countries is prohibited.
     

Transporting biological material within and around UF:

 

The following general guidelines apply:

 

Double contain the items plastic leak-proof containers within sturdy outer packaging. Include absorbent material within the containers as well as padding to minimize movement of the container(s) within the outer packaging. Wipe the outer container with an appropriate disinfectant before removing it from the laboratory and apply a biohazard sticker if applicable. Put your name and contact information on the package.

 

UF policy states that dangerous goods are not to be transported in your personal vehicle. This is both a safety and liability issue. Use a state vehicle instead.

 

 

Shipping radioactives? Call 392-7359

Shipping chemicals? Call 392-8400