3 June 2004 - Latest Approved List of Biological Agents
The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP), which advises the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and Health and Agriculture Ministers on issues relating to occupational exposure to biological agents, has published the latest version of the Approved List of Biological Agents - ‘The Approved List’.
The Approved List classifies biological agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and prions) into one of four hazard groups (HG) according to the following criteria:
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Their ability to cause infection (in otherwise healthy individuals)
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The severity of the disease that may result
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The risk that infection will spread to the community
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The availability of effective vaccines and treatment.
As the 'Approved List' is approved by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), it has a special legal status. The List is made under Section 15 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and implements the Community Classification of biological agents set out in European Community Directive 2000/54/EC. The Control of Substances Hazardous to health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 impose requirements by reference to this classification, which are therefore legally binding. The 'Approved List' works to provide the regulatory framework controlling the risk from biological agents at work.
Numerous changes have been made to the list, including:
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the status of Duvenhage virus and Mobala virus (both have been changed from HG2 to HG3)
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the removal of several HG2 bacteria
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the inclusion of the SARS virus as a HG3 agent.
The List is now a stand-alone publication that should be read in conjunction with COSHH and relevant ACDP and COSHH guidance.
Further changes to the List are:
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A new agent, human metapneumonovirus, has been added in Hazard Group 2
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Transfusion transmitted (TT) virus, Mycobacterium avium/intracellulare, M. kansasii, M. scrofulaceum, M. simiae and M. xenopi have been reclassified from Hazard Group 3 to Hazard Group 2 on the basis of current information about their infectivity
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A number of Hazard Group 2 bacteria have been removed from the list on the basis that they are opportunist pathogens and are usually associated with illness in immunocompromised individuals. As such, this means that they do not strictly fit the definition of a Hazard Group 2 agent. (Any work with these agents is still subject to risk assessment under COSHH, the same as work with any other biological agent, and appropriate containment and control measures put in place).
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Uukuviruses have been removed from the list as the agents have not been associated with human disease
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Trypanosoma rangeli has been removed from the list as the agent does not cause human disease.
The Approved List is available as an online publication only on the HSE website here.
