The biological safety of experiments performedon macromolecules at the ILL is initially based on a sample sheet to be filled in and submitted once your receive the safety letter related to your proposal. It is crucial that the scientist fills out the sample sheet correctly. In case of DNA or oligonucleotides, indicate if native, synthetic or from other origin (ie commercial). For biological agents, please make sure that all details are given. A French decree dated 18 July 1994 defines a list of pathogens with their risk classification. The ILL does not accept biological samples belonging to higher than Hazard Group 1. For proteins, full details must be given. Is the protein toxic, oncogenic, biologically active, or presenting any risk to human health or environment? DO NOT use abbreviations, but mention the function of the sample (e.g. kinase, scaffold protein or even if  hypothetical or unknown function, etc.). For highly purified proteins, you should detail the source of origin and the host organism in which the protein is expressed.
According to Commission de Génie Génétique (the French Genetic Engineering Commission) proteins are classified in two classes of risk:

A (no danger to human health and/or environment) or
B (presenting a danger to human health and/or environment). All toxins fall under category B.

The CGG has published a short list of classified proteins. Proteins which come from a class 2 source organism or higher and that have been over-expressed in class 1 organism (e.g. E. Coli BL21 strain, Yeast, Baculovirus in insect cells) will be reviewed case by case.

The French decree of 30 July 2004 details some biological agents and takes into account the notion ‘all or part’ (tout ou partie) of the agents. It means that all genes and products (e.g. recombinant proteins) fall under the control of the AFSSAPS (Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé). All samples whose source organism is named in this decree must be declared to the AFSSAPS via two different forms: Import authorisation, Export authorisation. Here is an extended list of controlled organisms. Please take note that several weeks are required to get the AFSSAPS forms.

For experiments involving samples of human origin, the scientist should clear the export regulations of his/her own country and should submit a import/export authorisation form and transport label to the French Ministry of Research. Without such an authorisation, no human sample can enter the French territory to be analysed on ILL instruments. Please, note that authorisation instruction time takes at least 1 month.

After checking your sample sheet submitted with your proposal, the Biosafety Officer will let you know by email if you must fill out:

•    the AFSSAPS import/export form or
•    the samples of human origin form.

TRAVEL NEWS

Finally, an agreement with airport security at Geneva, Lyon and Grenoble airport customs and police has been set in place; you must carry an accompanying letter provided by the ILL/ESRF joint Biosafety Officer (Véronique Mayeux phone +33 (0)476 88 22 03) only when you are travelling home with your dewars or dry biological samples. No agreement exists for liquid samples. The letter (in French) must be signed by the person transporting the samples and the ILL/ESRF joint Biosafety Officer. You may request an English translation of the letter either for your information or for the airline, depending on which company you are flying with. The joint Biosafety Officer should be contacted well in advance for the provision of this letter, especially when the letter is required for travel at the weekend; details of the person transporting the samples have to be transmitted to the airport authorities in advance of travel.

NEW (03/10/2011) Users travelling via Lyon or Grenoble airports should ensure that the dewars comply with IATA special provision A152. It is strongly recommended to contact your airline prior to travel to check specific constraints regarding weight and size. Ensure that any old labels are removed prior to travel. 

It is strongly recommended that samples should be shipped by "agreed" carriers such as FEDEX, UPS, DHL, World courier, TNT.

The ILL does not provide any such letter for scientists travelling back to UK on Eurostar with samples and may be subject to a security check by Eurostar authorities. See Eurostar section.