Biosafety at VU

Victoria University’s Biosafety Policy is designed to protect the health and safety of people and the environment from potential biosafety hazards used in teaching and research.

VU Biosafety Policy & Procedures

Read the VU's Biosafety Policy & Procedures from the policy library. The policy:

  • provides a framework to ensure the safety and security of all employees, contractors, volunteers and students when dealing with potentially hazardous biological material
  • ensures the University is compliant with all relevant statutes, codes and guidelines
  • reinforces the University's commitment and capacity to managing the risk of unintentional release of, or human or animal exposure to:
    • biological hazards
    • genetically modified organisms
    • biological material that is controlled, regulated or prohibited
    • biologicals of security concern.

Where your work involves biological material that is controlled, regulated or prohibited, you should ensure you are familiar with the relevant VU Biosafety procedures listed below:

  • Biosafety - Dealings Involving Risk Group Agents Procedure
  • Biosafety - Internal Certification of Containment Laboratories Procedure
  • Biosafety - Dealings Involving Genetically Modified Organisms Procedure
  • Biosafety - Import, Export, Transport and Packaging of Biological Material Procedure
  • Biosafety - Non-Compliance & Adverse Incidents Procedure
  • Biosafety - Governance Procedure.

Further information

  • The VU Risk and Compliance Team maintain an updated list of regulatory requirements. Please refer to the Compliance Intranet site (login required when offsite).
  • The VU Biosafety Program details procedures and guidelines that must be followed at VU to ensure biosafety compliance. View Lab Safety Guidelines (on VU Collaborate, via MyVU; login required).
  • For VU OHS procedures related to hazardous materials see the People & Culture OHS Intranet site (login required when offsite).