14. Plant & Insect Permit Pathways: Navigating the Regulatory Maze from MTA to EPA

A distance learning opportunity
November 13, 2025, and January 29, 2026
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (CST)

Registration for the live webinar must be completed 1 business day prior to the start of the training.
Registrations received after will receive access to the recording only.
Recordings are available for purchase 90 days after the start of the course and must be completed 60 days after purchase.

Deborah Howard, MPH, CBSP(ABSA), Expert—Global AP Biosafety Manager, BASF, Durham, NC
Anita Harrell, BS Biosafety Manager, BASF, Durham, NC

Part I Foundations and Frameworks – Plant and plant pest research is the backbone of both genetically modified, disease resistance and breeding of both academic and biotechnology research so it is important that research is conducted legally and ethically. The first webinar will cover the importance of having the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) in place before research begins and a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) to protect confidential business information (CBI) and Intellectual Property (IP) rights. We will discuss the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which is an international agreement on biosafety and a supplement to the Convention on Biological Diversity to understand requirements for access and benefit sharing between countries. The class will walk you through setting up an eFile account which is used for applying for permits. This will be the first session of 2 and it will be conducted over a 2-hour period with time for questions and answers.  

Part II: Federal Compliance – PPQ, BRS, VS, PHYTO, EPA, Biopesticides, Wildlife & Fisheries – The second part of the series will provide participants with an overview of the federal regulations that allow you to import, export and move biological material inside and outside the U.S. legally. The class will expand on the first session by walking you through the ins and outs of applying for different permits. This course will cover the foundations of whether a permit is needed, how to apply for a permit, what type of permit you need, permit conditions, and the result of non-compliance.

• Determine which permit is needed to move your material legally
• Summarize how to apply for a permit
• Identify the importance of protecting your research by putting an MTA/NDA/CBI/IP in place
• Describe how the Cartegena Protocol and related international regulations impact material transfer and organization’s responsibilities
• Paraphrase the tips on how to apply for a permit for flexibility in your research

Biosafety/Biosecurity professionals in government, industry, academic and other institutions/organizations; Individuals who regularly communicates about biosafety with the public or non-biosafety professionals; Professionals who have oversite or responsibility for moving biological material between states or countries

This course has been approved for 0.5 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. *ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.^® Program. This course is approved for 4.0 P.A.C.E.^® contact hours. Course access links are unique and for individual use only. Sharing is prohibited. Duplicate logins or unregistered attendees will be removed from the webinar without a refund.