Import regulations
Mailing labels for strains that require import permits should be provided by the
customer. Customers in the USA are recommended to contact the Regional Director
Region II, PPQ APHIS USDA, American Embassy, APO New York 09159, in order to obtain
permission to import cultures.
It is the responsibility of the customer to check the import regulations
for the species ordered. Information can generally be obtained from the Departments
of Public Health, Environment, or Agriculture. Ignoring regulations can lead to
considerable delay and even penalties or damage. Hazard categories according to
international laws (or national laws in case of plant pathogens) regulations are indicated in the catalogue.
The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations require that shippers of microorganisms of
risk groups 2 or 3 must be trained by IATA certified and approved instructors. They also require shippers declaration forms, which should accompany the package in duplicate,
and specified labels are used for organisms in transit by air. There are several
other regulations that impose export restrictions on the distribution of microorganisms.
These include control of distribution of agents that could be used in biological
warfare, EU Council Regulation 3381/94/EEC on the control of export of dual-use
goods (Official J. L 367, p1) and more generally countries are currently implementing
Access and Benefit Sharing Regulations to Genetic Resources under the Convention
on Biological Diversity (http://www.biodiv.org). The BRC supply technician attends
IATA training courses every two years to keep abreast of changing legislation and
to comply with IATA requirements.