Possession
Find out more about the requirements for an approval to possess under the Biological Agents and Toxins Act.
Last updated 22 April 2026
General
Possession, in relation to the Biological Agents and Toxins Act (BATA), includes activities such as owning, storing, handling and using First and Second Schedule biological agent and Fifth Schedule toxin.
Under the BATA, facilities which are interested to possess First or Second Schedule biological agent or Fifth Schedule toxin must apply for approval to possess the biological agent or toxin from the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Schedule of biological agent and toxin
The List of Biological Agents and Toxins is available on the biosafety website. Please note that the list is non-exhaustive and may be updated from time to time. For hazardous biological agents that are not found in the list, please consult MOH via email (moh_biosafety@moh.gov.sg).
Requirements
The facility must be registered with the MOH before an application for approval to possess can be submitted.
The table below summarizes the requirements that the facility must satisfy to apply for approval to possess the scheduled biological agent and toxin.
List of requirements a facility has to satisfy prior to application.
Schedule | Requirements for Possession | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Certified Facility | Protected Place | Special Approval to Handle | ||
First Schedule Part 1 | Yes* | No | No | |
First Schedule Part 2 | Yes* | Yes | No | |
Second Schedule | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Fifth Schedule | No | Yes | No | |
*Under Section 6(3) of the BATA, an operator of an uncertified facility may be granted an approval to possess a First Schedule biological agent if the Director-General of Health is satisfied that any activity involving the use of the First Scheule biological agent can be carried out at the facility in a safe and proper manner. For more information on working with First Schedule biological agent in an uncertified facility, refer to uncertified facility for more details or contact MOH. | ||||
Application
The facility administrator can submit an application for approval to possess via the HALP-Biosafety portal for a facility that meets the pre-requisites below:
The facility is registered with the MOH and the registration is valid.
The facility meets the requirements set forth for the possession of the biological agent or toxin based on the schedule (e.g. protected place, certified facility or a special approval to handle).
Fees
Currently, the MOH does not charge any fees for the application or processing of an application to possess a First or Second Schedule biological agent or a Fifth Schedule toxin.
Processing time
The processing time will depend on the accuracy and the completeness of the information and supporting documents submitted for the application. Processing of applications are typically completed within 7 working days if all the criteria and/or requirements for the application are met.
Validity of the approval
The validity of the approval is tied to the validity of the facility registration. The MOH may at its discretion, revoke or suspend the approval at any time.
FAQs
Find answers to commonly asked questions on the FAQ page.