Biological Agents and Toxins (Transportation) Regulations 2005

Biological Agents and Toxins Act 2005

(Section 63)

Biological Agents and Toxins
(Transportation) Regulations 2005

2024 REVISED EDITION

(18 December 2024)

[3 January 2006]

Citation

1. These Regulations are the Biological Agents and Toxins (Transportation) Regulations 2005.

Application

2.—(1) These Regulations 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; or
(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 must ensure that the biological agent is packed in accordance with this regulation.

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

(3) Every primary receptacle must be —

(a)

watertight and leakproof;

(b)

wrapped in absorbent material of sufficient quantity to —

(i)	prevent breakage of the primary receptacle; and
(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)

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 must be —

(a)	watertight; and
(b)	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 must ensure that the toxin is packed in accordance with this regulation.

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

(3) Every package must be —

(a)	watertight and leakproof (if the contents are in liquid form); and
(b)	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 must ensure that the biological agent is labelled in accordance with this regulation.

(2) Every primary receptacle referred to in regulation 3 must be affixed with the biological hazard sign specified in Part 1 of the Schedule.

(3) Every secondary receptacle referred to in regulation 3 must 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) must 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 1 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 must ensure that the toxin is labelled in accordance with this regulation.

(2) Every package referred to in regulation 4 must 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 2 of the Schedule; and

(e)

a statement that states that the package contains a toxin.

Labelling of conveyance transporting biological agents and toxins on public roads

7.—(1) Every carrier must, in accordance with this regulation, ensure that every conveyance used by the carrier 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 1 of the Schedule;
(b)	so long as the conveyance is being used to transport a toxin, with the biohazard label specified in Part 2 of the Schedule;
(c)	so long as the conveyance is being used to transport a biological agent and a toxin, with the biohazard labels specified in Parts 1 and 2 of the Schedule.

(2) Where the transporting conveyance is any vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 metric tons, the vehicle must 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 must be labelled with the biohazard label as required under paragraph (1) on its front and back.

Training of drivers

8. Every carrier must ensure that every person employed by the carrier 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. A person must not re-package any First Schedule biological agent, Second Schedule biological agent or Fifth Schedule toxin except at such facility as may be specified in the person’s 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.

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