{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/genetically-modified-organismscontained-use-regulations-2000/schedule-8/part-II",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/genetically-modified-organismscontained-use-regulations-2000/schedule-8/part-II.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2000/2831",
  "legislation_title": "The Genetically Modified Organisms(Contained Use) Regulations 2000",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/genetically-modified-organismscontained-use-regulations-2000",
  "path": "schedule/8/part/II",
  "kind": "part",
  "number": "II",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "Table 1a:\nContainment Measures for Activities Involving Genetic Modification of Micro-organisms in Laboratories\nContainment Measures\nContainment Levels\n1\n2\n3\n4\nNOTES\n1. In the Table above, “isolation” means, in relation to a laboratory, separation of the laboratory from other areas in the same building, or being in a separate building.\n2. Entry must be through an airlock which is a chamber isolated from the laboratory. The clean side of the airlock must be separated from the restricted side by changing or showering facilities and preferably by interlocking doors.\n3. Where viruses are not retained by the HEPA filters, extra requirements will be necessary for extract air.\n4. Where the autoclave is outside the laboratory in which the activity involving genetic modification of micro-organisms is being undertaken, but within the laboratory suite, there shall be validated procedures for the safe transfer of material into that autoclave, which provide a level of protection equivalent to that which would be achieved by having an autoclave in that laboratory.\n1\nLaboratory suite: isolation (Note 1)\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired\nrequired\n2\nLaboratory: sealable for fumigation\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired\nrequired\nEquipment\n3\nSurfaces impervious to water, resistant to acids, alkalis, solvents, disinfectants and decontamination agents and easy to clean\nrequired for bench\nrequired for bench\nrequired for bench and floor\nrequired for bench, floor ceiling and walls\n4\nEntry to lab via airlock (Note 2)\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\n5\nNegative pressure relative to the pressure of the immediate surroundings\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\nrequired\n6\nExtract and input air from the laboratory shall be HEPA filtered\nnot required\nnot required\nHEPA filters required for extract air\nHEPA filters required for input and extract air (Note 3)\n7\nMicrobiological safety cabinet/enclosure\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired, and all procedures with infective materials required to be contained within a cabinet/enclosure\nClass III cabinet required\n8\nAutoclave\nrequired on site\nrequired in the building\nrequired in the laboratory suite (Note 4)\ndouble ended autoclave required in laboratory\nSystem of work\n9\nAccess restricted to authorised personnel only\nnot required\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired (via airlock key procedure)\n10\nSpecific measures to control aerosol dissemination\nnot required\nrequired so as to minimise\nrequired so as to prevent\nrequired so as to prevent\n11\nShower\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\n12\nProtective clothing\nsuitable protective clothing required\nsuitable protective clothing required\nsuitable protective clothing required; footwear required where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\ncomplete change of clothing and footwear required before entry and exit\n13\nGloves\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired\nrequired\n14\nEfficient control of disease vectors (eg rodents and insects) which could disseminate GMMs\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\n15\nSpecified disinfection procedures in place\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\nWaste\n16\nInactivation of GMMs in effluent from handwashing sinks and showers and similar effluents\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\n17\nInactivation of GMMs in contaminated material and waste\nrequired by validated means\nrequired by validated means\nrequired by validated means\nrequired by validated means\nOther measures\n18\nLaboratory to contain its own equipment\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired, so far as is reasonably practicable\nrequired\n19\nAn observation window or alternative is to be present so that occupants can be seen\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\nrequired\n20\nSafe storage of GMMs\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\nrequired\nsecure storage required\n21\nWritten records of staff training\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired\nrequired\nTable 1b:\nContainment Measures for Activities Involving Genetic Modification of Micro-organisms in Plant Growth Facilities (to be read with Table 1a as indicated in paragraph 3)\nContainment Measures\nContainment Levels\nAdditional/modification\n1\n2\n3\n4\nNOTE\n1. A permanent structure refers to a fixed structure with walls, a roof and a floor. Where the permanent structure is a greenhouse, that structure shall also have a continuous waterproof covering and self-closing lockable outer doors, and be located on a site designed to prevent the entry of surface run-off water.\nBuilding\n1\nPermanent structure (Note 1)\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\nModification\nEquipment\n2\nEntry via a separate room with two interlocking doors\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired (via airlock key procedure)\nAdditional\n3\nControl of contaminated run-off water\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired so as to prevent run-off\nrequired so as to prevent run-off\nrequired so as to prevent run-off\nAdditional\nSystem of work\n4\nEffective control of disease vectors such as insects, rodents and arthropods which could disseminate GMMs\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\nAdditional\n5\nEffective control of pollen, seeds and other plant material which could disseminate GMMs\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired so as to minimise dissemination\nrequired so as to prevent dissemination\nrequired so as to prevent dissemination\nAdditional\n6\nProcedures for transfer of living material between the plant growth facilities, protective structure and laboratory shall control dissemination of GMMs\nrequired so as to minimise dissemination\nrequired so as to prevent dissemination\nrequired so as to prevent dissemination\nrequired so as to prevent dissemination\nAdditional\nTable 1c:\nContainment Measures for Activities Involving Genetic Modification of Micro-organisms in Animal Units (to be read with Table 1a as indicated in paragraph 3)\nContainment Measures\nContainment Levels\nAdditional/modification\n1\n2\n3\n4\nNOTES\n1. In the Table above, “animal unit” means a building, or separate area within a building, containing an animal facility and other areas including changing rooms, showers, autoclaves and food storage areas.\n2. In the Table above and in Note 1 above, “animal facility” means a facility normally used to house stock, breeding or experimental animals or one which is used for the performance of minor surgical procedures on animals.\n3. In the Table above, “isolators” means transparent boxes where small animals are contained within or outside a cage; for large animals, isolated rooms may be more appropriate.\nFacilities\n1\nIsolation of animal unit (Note 1)\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\nModification\n2\nAnimal facilities (Note 2) separated by lockable doors\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\nAdditional\n3\nAnimal facilities (cages, etc) designed to facilitate decontamination (waterproof and easily washable material)\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assesment shows they are required\nrequired\nrequired\nAdditional\n4\nFloor, walls and ceiling easily washable\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired for floor\nrequired for floor and walls\nrequired for floor, walls and ceiling\nModification\n5\nAppropriate filters on isolators or isolated rooms (Note 3)\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired\nrequired\nAdditional\n6\nIncinerator for disposal of animal carcasses\nrequired to be accessible\nrequired to be accessible\nrequired to be accessible\nrequired to be on site\nAdditional\n7\nAppropriate barriers at the room exit, and at drains or ventilation duct work\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\nAdditional\n8\nAnimals kept in appropriate containment facilities, such as cages, pens, tanks or isolators\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nAdditional\nTable 2:\nContainment Measures for Activities Involving Genetic Modification of Micro-organisms in Premises other than those referred to in Tables 1a, 1b and 1c\nContainment Measures\nContainment Levels\n1\n2\n3\n4\nGeneral\n1\nViable micro-organisms shall be contained in a system which separates the process from the workplace and wider environment (closed system)\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\n2\nClosed systems located within a controlled area\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired\nrequired and required to be purpose built\n3\nControl of exhaust gases from the closed system\nnot required\nrequired so as to minimise release\nrequired so as to prevent release\nrequired so as to prevent release\n4\nControl of aerosols during sample collection, addition of material to a closed system or transfer of material to another closed system\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired so as to minimise release\nrequired so as to prevent release\nrequired so as to prevent release\n5\nInactivation of bulk culture fluids before removal from the closed system\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired by validated means\nrequired by validated means\nrequired by validated means\n6\nSeals shall be designed so as to minimise or prevent release\nnot required\nrequired so as to minimise release\nrequired so as to prevent release\nrequired so as to prevent release\n7\nThe controlled area designed to contain spillage of the entire contents of the closed system\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\nrequired\n8\nThe controlled area sealable to permit fumigation\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\n9\nBiohazard signs posted\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\nEquipment\n10\nEntry via airlock\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\n11\nSurfaces resistant to water, acids, alkalis, solvents, disinfectants and decontamination agents and easy to clean\nrequired for any bench\nrequired for any bench\nrequired for floor and any bench\nrequired for bench, floor, ceiling and walls\n12\nSpecific measures to adequately ventilate the controlled areas in order to minimise air contamination\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows they are required\nrequired\n13\nThe controlled area maintained at an air pressure negative to the immediate surroundings\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\n14\nExtract and input air from the controlled area shall be HEPA filtered\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired for extract air, optional for input air\nrequired for input and extract air\nSystem of work\n15\nAccess restricted to authorised personnel only\nnot required\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\n16\nDecontamination and washing facilities provided for personnel\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\nrequired\n17\nPersonnel shall shower before leaving the controlled area\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\n18\nPersonnel shall wear protective clothing\nwork clothing required\nwork clothing required\nrequired\ncomplete change required before exit and entry\n19\nWritten procedures and records of staff training\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired\nrequired\nWaste\n20\nInactivation of GMMs in effluent from handwashing sinks and showers or similar effluents\nnot required\nnot required\nrequired where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required\nrequired\n21\nInactivation of GMMs in contaminated material and waste including those in process effluent before final discharge\nrequired by validated means\nrequired by validated means\nrequired by validated means\nrequired by validated means",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "uksi/2010/2840",
      "affecting_title": "The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (revoked)"
    },
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "uksi/2005/2466",
      "affecting_title": "The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (revoked)"
    },
    {
      "type": "word substituted",
      "affecting": "uksi/2005/2466",
      "affecting_title": "The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (revoked)"
    },
    {
      "type": "word substituted",
      "affecting": "uksi/2005/2466",
      "affecting_title": "The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (revoked)"
    },
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "uksi/2005/2466",
      "affecting_title": "The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (revoked)"
    },
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "uksi/2005/2466",
      "affecting_title": "The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (revoked)"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/2831/schedule/8/part/II",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T08:12:12.639113+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}