Biological Agents and Toxins (Transportation) Regulations 2005

No. S 875

Biological Agents and Toxins Act 2005

(Act 36 of 2005)

Biological Agents and Toxins (Transportation) Regulations 2005

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 63 of the Biological Agents and Toxins Act 2005, the Minister for Health hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Biological Agents and Toxins (Transportation) Regulations 2005 and shall come into operation on 3rd January 2006.

Application

2.—(1) These Regulations shall apply in relation to the transportation in Singapore of —

(a)	any First Schedule biological agent;
(b)	any Second Schedule biological agent;
(c)	any Third Schedule biological agent in quantities aggregating 10 litres or more carried on any conveyance at any one time; or
(d)	any Fifth Schedule toxin.

(2) In these Regulations —

“biological agent” means —

(a)	any First Schedule biological agent;
(b)	any Second Schedule biological agent;
(c)	any Third Schedule biological agent transported in quantities aggregating 10 litres or more on any conveyance at any one time;

“public road” means any public highway or any road over which the public has a right of way or is granted access, and includes every road, street, bridge, passage, footway or square over which the public has a right of way or is granted access;

“toxin” means any Fifth Schedule toxin.

Packaging of biological agents transported on public roads

3.—(1) Where any biological agent is required to be transported on any public road, the transferor shall ensure that the biological agent is packed in accordance with this regulation.

(2) The biological agent shall be contained in a primary receptacle which shall at all times be transported in an upright position.

(3) Every primary receptacle shall —

(a)

be watertight and leak-proof;

(b)

be wrapped in absorbent material of sufficient quantity to —

(i)	prevent breakage of the primary receptacle;
(ii)	in the event of a breakage of or leakage from the primary receptacle, absorb all fluids (if any) that may emanate from the biological agent; and

(c)

be packed in a secondary receptacle.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(c), more than one primary receptacle, whether they contain the same or different biological agents, may be packed into a secondary receptacle provided that —

(a)	each primary receptacle is individually wrapped or otherwise separated from the other primary receptacles so as to prevent contact between primary receptacles; and
(b)	the biological agents packed in the secondary receptacle are intended for the same facility.

(5) Every secondary receptacle shall —

(a)	be watertight; and
(b)	be packed in a rigid outer container.

Packaging of toxins transported on public roads

4.—(1) Where any toxin is required to be transported on any public road, the transferor shall ensure that the toxin is packed in accordance with this regulation.

(2) The toxin shall be contained in a package which shall at all times be transported in an upright position.

(3) Every package shall —

(a)	be watertight and leak-proof (if the contents are in liquid form); and
(b)	be sufficiently strong to withstand any impact which the package would normally be subject to during the transportation, loading or unloading.

Labelling, etc., of biological agents transported on public roads

5.—(1) Where any biological agent is required to be transported on any public road, the transferor shall ensure that the biological agent is labelled in accordance with this regulation.

(2) Every primary receptacle referred to in regulation 3 shall be affixed with the biological hazard sign specified in Part I of the Schedule.

(3) Every secondary receptacle referred to in regulation 3 shall contain an itemised list of the contents of each primary receptacle packed in the secondary receptacle.

(4) Every rigid outer container referred to in regulation 3(5)(b) shall be labelled with —

(a)

the name, address and telephone number of the transferor;

(b)

the name, address and telephone number of the transferee;

(c)

a 24-hour emergency number that is monitored at all times by a person who —

(i)	has knowledge of the hazards and characteristics of the biological agent being transported; or
(ii)	has immediate access to a person who possesses such knowledge and information;

(d)

the biological hazard sign specified in Part I of the Schedule; and

(e)

a statement that states that the container contains an infectious substance.

Labelling, etc., of toxins transported on public roads

6.—(1) Where any toxin is required to be transported on any public road, the transferor shall ensure that the toxin is labelled in accordance with this regulation.

(2) Every package referred to in regulation 4 shall be labelled with —

(a)

the name, address and telephone number of the transferor;

(b)

the name, address and telephone number of the transferee;

(c)

a 24-hour emergency number that is monitored at all times by a person who —

(i)	has knowledge of the hazards and characteristics of the toxin being transported; or
(ii)	has immediate access to a person who possesses such knowledge and information;

(d)

the biological hazard sign specified in Part II of the Schedule; and

(e)

a statement that states that the container contains a toxin.

Labelling of conveyance transporting biological agents and toxins on public roads

7.—(1) Every carrier shall, in accordance with this regulation, ensure that every conveyance used by him to transport any biological agent or toxin on any public road is labelled with the biohazard label specified as follows:

(a)	so long as the conveyance is being used to transport a biological agent, with the biohazard label specified in Part I of the Schedule;
(b)	so long as the conveyance is being used to transport a toxin, with the biohazard label specified in Part II of the Schedule; and
(c)	so long as the conveyance is being used to transport a biological agent and a toxin, with the biohazard labels specified in Parts I and II of the Schedule.

(2) Where the transporting conveyance is any vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 metric tons, the vehicle shall be labelled with the biohazard label as required under paragraph (1) on all 4 of its sides.

(3) Where the transporting conveyance is any vehicle with a maximum laden weight not exceeding 3.5 metric tons, the vehicle shall be labelled with the biohazard label as required under paragraph (1) on its front and back.

Training of drivers

8. Every carrier shall ensure that every person employed by him to drive any conveyance used to transport any biological agent or toxin has —

(a)	undergone the relevant training conducted by the Singapore Civil Defence Force; and
(b)	has been issued with a Hazardous Materials Transport Driver Permit by the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Re-packaging of biological agents and toxins

9. No person shall re-package any First Schedule biological agent, Second Schedule biological agent or Fifth Schedule toxin except at such facility as may be specified in his approval to possess the First Schedule biological agent, Second Schedule biological agent or Fifth Schedule toxin, as the case may be.

Offence and penalty

10. Any person who contravenes regulation 3(1), 4(1), 5(1) 6 (1), 7(1), 8 or 9 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

Made this 21st day of December 2005.

YONG YING-I

Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Health,
Singapore.

[MH 78:70; AG/LEG/SL/24A/2005/1 Vol. 1]

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