Notifying your intention to hold pathogens and toxins
Published 5 August 2014
© Crown copyright 2014
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifying-your-intention-to-hold-pathogens-and-toxins/notifying-your-intention-to-hold-pathogens-and-toxins
Managers and occupiers of laboratories and other premises are obliged to notify the appropriate authorities that they intend to hold, keep or use stocks of specified disease-causing micro-organisms and toxins.
They must also ensure that suitable security arrangements are in place.
These obligations are covered under Part 7 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.
Schedule 5 to the act lists the dangerous pathogens and toxins covered by the legislation.
1. Criminal offences
Failure to notify holding these materials is a criminal offence and could result in prosecution.
If found guilty of an offence under Part 7 of the act, there is a maximum penalty:
- on conviction on indictment, of 5 years’ imprisonment or a fine (or both)
- on summary conviction, of 6 months’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both)
2. Notification process
If you wish to store or use the listed materials:
- send an email to the Home Office at pathogensandtoxins@homeoffice.gov.uk and request a ‘notification form’.
- submit the completed notification form back to the Home Office at pathogensandtoxins@homeoffice.gov.uk
The Home Office will forward your details to the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office who will, in turn, notify the appropriate counter-terrorism security advisor.
Your local counter-terrorism security advisor will then contact you to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place.
3. Privacy notice
Pathogens and toxins notification: personal information notice