Notification of the use of biological agents
5.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (7) and (8), an employer shall not use for the first time one or more biological agents in Group 2, 3 or 4 at particular premises for any of the activities listed in paragraph 3(3) unless he has–
(a)notified the Executive in writing of his intention to do so at least 20 working days in advance, or such shorter period as the Executive may allow;
(b)furnished with that notification the particulars specified in sub-paragraph (5); and
(c)received the acknowledgement required by sub-paragraph (4).
(2) Subject to sub-paragraphs (7) and (9), an employer shall not use a biological agent which is specified in Part V, except where the use of that agent has been notified to the Executive in accordance with sub-paragraph (1), for any of the activities listed in paragraph 3(3) unless he has–
(a)notified the Executive in writing of his intention to do so at least 20 working days in advance, or such shorter period as the Executive may allow;
(b)furnished with that notification the particulars specified in sub-paragraph (5); and
(c)received the acknowledgement required by sub-paragraph (4).
(3) The Executive may accept a single notification under sub-paragraph (2) in respect of the use of more than one biological agent by the same person.
(4) Upon receipt of the notification required by sub-paragraph (1) or (2), the Executive shall, within 20 working days–
(a)send to the notifier an acknowledgement of receipt; or
(b)if the notification does not contain all of the particulars specified in sub-paragraph (5)–
(i)inform the notifier in writing of the further particulars required, and
(ii)within 10 working days of receipt of those further particulars, send to the notifier an acknowledgement of receipt.
(5) The particulars to be included in the notification referred to in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be–
(a)the name and address of the employer and the address of the premises where the biological agent will be stored or used;
(b)the name, qualifications and relevant experience of any employee of that employer with specific responsibility for the health and safety of his fellow employees;
(c)the results of the risk assessment;
(d)the identity of the biological agent and, if the agent does not have an approved classification, the Group to which the agent has been assigned; and
(e)the preventive and protective measures that are to be taken.
(6) Where there are changes to processes, procedures or the biological agent which are of importance to health or safety at work and which render the original notification invalid the employer shall notify the Executive forthwith in writing of those changes.
(7) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply in relation to a biological agent where an intention to use that biological agent has been previously notified to the Executive in accordance with the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001(1).
(8) The requirement in sub-paragraph (1) to notify first use of a biological agent in Group 2 or 3 shall not apply to an employer whose only use of that agent is in relation to the provision of a diagnostic service provided that use will not involve a process likely to propagate, concentrate or otherwise increase the risk of exposure to that agent.
(9) The requirement in sub-paragraph (2) to notify use of a biological agent specified in Part V shall not apply to an employer whose only use of that agent is in relation to the provision of a diagnostic service provided that use will not involve a process likely to propagate, concentrate or otherwise increase the risk of exposure to that agent.