research progtams: Health and Welfare of Canada, the National Research 
Council of Canada, the National Cancer Institute of Canada, and the Coun- 
cil on Research and Health of Quebec. Means are now being sought for ex- 
tending the Guidelines to other sectors. 
Although the recombinant DNA sections of the Canadian Guidelines dif 
fer in detail from those of the United States and the United Kingdom, the 
three documents ate broadly similar. For example, whereas the U.S. Guide 
lines describe four levels of physical containment (as do the U.K.) and 
three of biological containment, the Canadian Guidelines provide for six 
and three levels, respectively. (See Appendix VIII.) 
The Canadian Guidelines specifically discuss three levels of respon- 
sibility for ensuring the implementation of the safety procedures 
involved. The major responsibility is seen as resting on the principal 
investigator. Although the duties of this individual are not identified 
in detail, it is stated that his responsibility for ensuring the safety 
of the laboratory extends beyond mere compliance with the Guidelines. 
Responsibility for monitoring both the facilities and the procedures 
on a continuous basis is assigned to the research institution. Each 
institution is advised to establish a biohazards committee to ensure 
that (1) the staff is knowledgeable of the Guidelines and properly 
trained so as to be able to adhere to them, (2) the physical facilities 
and laboratory procedures comply with the assigned safety precautions, 
and (3) up-to-date information concerning the nature of the biohazards 
is available. 
The third level of responsibility rests with the MRC. The Guide- 
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