Select Agents and Toxins are certain toxins of biological origin that are subject to stringent regulatory requirements under 42 CFR 73 for their potential to pose a severe threat to public, animal, or plant health, or to animal or plant products. Review the List of Select Agents and Toxins to see which toxins are considered select agent toxins. These toxins, along with specified biological agents (e.g. viruses, bacteria, and fungi) fall under the oversight of the Federal Select Agents Program. This page outlines Stanford University’s institutional requirements for possession of permissible amounts of select agent toxins and was established to ensure:
- Safe laboratory handling, use, and storage procedures.
- Effective tracking and security of the Select Agent Toxins.
- Compliance with federal regulations (42 CFR Part 73).
Federal Select Agents Program
The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 governs the transfer, possession, and use of biological agents (e.g. viruses and bacteria) and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public or environmental health. Possession of the specified agents or toxins without registration carries severe civil and criminal penalties.
Stanford University currently is not registered for the possession of select agents and does not have the programmatic support in place for their use; to use these agents would require both prior approval from the Vice Provost and Dean of Research and registration with the Federal Select Agents Program. Please contact Biosafety if you would like to discuss implications for the use of Select Agents.
