New rules to ensure lab safety
By Fu Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-05-29 08:50

New biohazard regulations for laboratories were released Friday, pushed ahead of schedule by recent SARS outbreaks which may have started in what are expected to be secure facilities.

The mandatory requirements, aimed at stepping up laboratory biosafety, will take effect October 1.The China National Accreditation and Certification Administration said cases of SARS contagion in Singapore, Beijing and China's Taiwan spurred the early release of the new regulations.

"To achieve biosafety in laboratories is a pressing task for us after last year's SARS outbreak," said Wang Fengqing, chairwoman of the administration, at a press conference Friday.

The new requirements cover management of biological agents, pathogens, hazardous waste and laboratory equipment. They also include step-by-step operating methods for laboratory staff to prevent risks.

"The requirements are relatively advanced because we borrowed experience from other countries," said Wang.

Basic biosafety requirements from the World Health Organization (WHO) were also incorporated, she said.

Li Zhonghai, director of the State Standardization Commission said China had no national laboratory biosafety standards even though many laboratories worked with risky biological agents and pathogens.

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