Genetic Modification and Biological Safety Sub-Committee: terms of reference

Information regarding the Genetic Modification and Biological Safety Sub-Committee's responsibilities.

On this page

• Purpose
• Organisation and meetings
• Duties and responsibilities

Purpose

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The Genetic Modification and Biological Safety Sub-committee (GMBSSC) is a statutory committee, required under regulation 16 of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations.  It advises University Management Committee (UMC) through the UCL Work Health & Safety Committee (WHSC), on all matters relating to genetic modification work at UCL, on all work involving wild-type hazard group 2 and 3 organisms at UCL and all work with pathogens and toxins listed under schedule 5 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

Organisation and meetings

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1. Meetings of the GMBSSC will be held quarterly (four times a year).
2. The Chair must be a senior academic working in either the field of Genetically Modified Organisms or working at Containment Level 3 (CL3).
3. The quorate is five members, one of whom must be the Chair or the Deputy Chair.

Duties and responsibilities

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1. Ensure UCL’s compliance with the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2014::
   • Regulation 8: "(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person responsible for contained use must obtain advice on a risk assessment from either (a) a person, or (b) a genetic modification safety committee, with expertise in risk assessment relating to contained use. (2) Where the risk assessment indicates that the contained use is classified as class 2 or above the advice must be obtained from a genetic modification safety committee.”
   • Regulations 9-17: regarding the requirement to notify the HSE about working with certain materials including, class 3 or class 4, larger GMOs and what work is to be done including planed use of premises, and joint work.
2. Control the HSE notification process for UCL through the Chair
3. Manage the risk assessment process for:
   • Genetically Modified Organisms work.
   • Hazard group 2 and 3 work.
   • Work with Schedule 5 pathogens and toxins.
4. Review the standards, guidance and procedures relating to: 
   • Genetically Modified Organisms work.
   • Hazard group 2 and 3 work.
   • Work with Schedule 5 pathogens and toxins.
5. Provide guidance to UCL including UCL Estates of the hazards such as refurbishment or repair work to laboratories used for:
   • Genetically Modified Organisms work.
   • Hazard Group 2 and 3 work.
   • Work with Schedule 5 pathogens and toxins.
6. Safety Services will:
   • Monitor and report on the completion data for the Principles and Practice of Biological Safety training.
   • Provide accident and incident data to the UMC and WHSC.
7. The departments will provide information on:
   • the number of people currently working each quarter in Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratories
   • the number of monthly inspections completed and any non-conformities. These are to include:
     • Thorough examinations of safety critical equipment.
     • Pre-planned maintenance.
     • Faults and repairs.
8. Ensure that a review of all relevant risk assessments is carried out by competent people in a timely manner.  The GMBSSC will appoint a number of working groups:
   • Each working group will be led by the Biological Safety Officer from Safety Services.
   • Will have at least 3 members plus the Biological Safety Officer.
   • One member from a different department to the assessor will be on the risk assessment.
   • The working groups will meet on the fourth Thursday of each month, to review the risk assessments submitted by the third Thursday of the month.
   • The Biological Safety Officer will then report on the progress of the risk assessments in their report to the GMBSSC.

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