RSPA ISSUES NEW RULES FOR INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

RSPA ISSUES NEW RULES FOR INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES    The U.S. Transportation Department’s Research and Special Programs Administration has revised its rules for packaging infectious substances for transport, effective Oct. 1.
   The rules also cover related materials, such as diagnostic specimens, biological products, genetically modified microorganisms, regulated medical waste and used health-care products.
   “These revisions will assure an acceptable level of safety for the transportation of infectious substances, and facilitate domestic and international transportation,” RSPA said.
   In January 2001, RSPA published a proposed rulemaking to revise its hazardous materials regulations, specifically division 6.2 materials. The revisions included the adoption of new classification criteria developed by the World Health Organization, UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air.