Storage of GMOs

Storage policy | Safe storage definition | Authorisation process

Storage policy

Although the risks posed by storage of GMOs may be negligible, the potential risks to human health and safety and the environment associated with their removal from storage, use and disposal fall within the responsibilities of the Act. Under the Act, unauthorised storage of GMOs is an offence. Storage of GMOs is prohibited unless GMOs are stored safely in accordance with OGTR Guidelines and are authorised.

The storage of GMOs can be covered by: a GMO licence (eg. DNIR), a notifiable low risk dealing (NLRD), an exempt dealing, or as part of a dealing listed on the GMO register.

Where storage of GMOs has been authorised by an NLRD, the GMOs must be stored in accordance with the Guidelines for the Certification of Facilities. If GMOs are authorised by a licence, they must be stored in accordance with the licence conditions.

In addition, the OGTR requires that at any time that you are storing GMOs you must ensure that:

• a new dealing application (exempt, NLRD or licence as appropriate) must be submitted in order to seek approval to use the GMOs for the purposes of conducting future research or experiments;
• if the GMOs are not stored safely, the GMOs should be destroyed in accordance with the OGTR 'Guidelines for the Certification of Facilities';
• any transport of the GMOs is conducted in accordance with the OGTR 'Guidelines for the Transport of GMOs;
• the IBC is notified as soon as possible of any changes, or proposed changes, to the storage notification;
• work must not involve the intentional release of a GMO into the environment - the IBC must be notified immediately in the event of any unintentional release of a GMO.

Investigators are required to:

• maintain their own records of all stored GMOs arising from their dealings;
• advise the IBC when the status of stored GMOs changes due to disposal of the GMOs;
• upon ceasing employment or study:
  1. advise the Facility Manager and/or Biosafety Officer of any stored GMOs; and
  2. ensure that the expected completion date for existing authorised dealings adequately covers the expected term of storage for the GMOs; and
  3. identify an investigator who will agree to take responsibility for the stored GMOs; and
  4. ensure that the IBC is notified with regard to the above.

Safe storage

Safe storage means that all of the following are demonstrated:

1. All the GMOs are stored in sealed containers; AND
2. All the sealed containers holding the GMOs are labeled in a way that enables details about the GMOs to be identified; AND
3. All the GMOs are stored:
   1. inside a facility that is currently certified by the OGTR to the appropriate containment level; OR
   2. all the GMOs are stored in a storage unit that completely contains the GMO under conditions which limit the ability of the GMO to propagate and which is either:
      1. lockable; or
      2. located in a secure area that prevents access to the cabinet from persons not responsible for its contents.

Generally, a cold storage cabinet that maintains temperatures inside the cabinet below 0º Celsius is the most appropriate storage unit. However, it may not be the appropriate place for storage for particular organisms (such as seeds, fungi, certain micro-organisms).

Authorisation of stored GMOs

When registering an exempt dealing or NLRD include details of any potential/proposed storage in the application.

Investigators should include any proposed storage period in their considerations of the expected completion date. Thus, whilst it may be anticipated that the work will be completed by for example, December 2008, the investigator may plan to store the GMOs for later comparative work - hence, put a later expected completion date eg. December 2010, in order to keep the stored GMOs authorised. Note also that expected completion dates can be revised as the need arises by contacting the IBC with relevant details.

For storage of GMOs that otherwise require a licence, please complete the OGTR Application for DNIR (Storage) and submit to the IBC.