[DIYbio] Re: Shipping permits, Facility inspections and other dIYBio challenges

Why do you ship agrobacterium to VA? Aren't there local sources? Just ship the plasmids. 

AFAIK, only shipping agrobacterium between States requires a permit. 

On Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 11:23:05 PM UTC+2, Tom De Medts wrote:

Hi DIYers,

I am new to the DIY Bio universe, having worked almost exclusively in university settings.

Currently, I want to transform some plants / seedlings with Agrobacterium. But it looks like I will need a lot of paperwork approved - 

1. USDA-APHIS permit for inter-state shipping from my alma mater in CA to me in VA

2. USDA-BRS facility inspection at physical location,  for compliance with biosafety regulation

Agro is BSL-1 and RG-1 (see this UCSD link), but NIH, CDC, USDA guidelines seem pretty paralyzing for DIYers..

But what do I know? As an independent community researcher, I am new to all of this regulation. Hence this email request for help.

Can a DIYer please tell me how to convince faculty at my former university, with true facts, as to why

shipping Agro strains, containing recombinant DNA plasmids, is compliant with all policies.

Several threads on this forum refer to permit applications. Can a citizen scientist apply for one?

Could some one guide me to relevant info? Which one would it be - USDA PPQ Form 526?

How about carrying out this project in a garage lab? Is that also allowed?

Would I need permits for that as well? Which ones?

If not, then what are workarounds? DIYLab? Community Lab? Or will they need to have been already inspected and approved?

Thanks, in advance.

- Tom