Bacillus thuringiensis – information sheet

Strain ATCC 13367

Overview

The Government of Canada conducted a science-based evaluation of Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367, called a screening assessment, to address the potential for harm to Canadians and the environment.
Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), the risk posed by a substance is determined by considering both its hazardous properties (its potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount of exposure there is to people or to the environment. A substance may have hazardous properties; however, the risk to human health or to the environment may be low depending upon the level of exposure.
- More information on assessing risk can be found in the Framework for Science-Based Risk Assessment of Micro-Organisms Regulated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
In the case of Bacillus thuringiensis, hazard has been estimated to be low for terrestrial and aquatic plants and vertebrates and most aquatic or terrestrial invertebrates. Some adverse effects have been reported for the larvae of certain insect species.
Very few cases of human infection linked to Bacillus thuringiensis have been reported. In the unlikely case of infection effective treatments against infection are available.
Therefore, it is concluded that Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367 is not harmful to human health or the environment.

This screening assessment focuses on the organism Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367. This Priority B (medium hazard) organism was assessed as part of the micro-organisms initiative of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP).
Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367 has characteristics in common with other strains of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies thuringiensis, which are commonly found in nature and used as the active ingredient in certain pest control products.
The characteristics of Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367 make it suitable for use in various applications, including degreasers, detergents, and additives in bioremediation and biodegradation, manufacturing enzymes or biochemicals, probiotics, plant growth promoters and in various industrial processes.
Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367 is currently used in Canada in small quantities for research and development.

As a result of its use in research and development, limited amounts of Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367 may be released into the Canadian environment. Exposure to Canadians and the environment is expected to be low.

Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367 can kill several kinds of moths and butterflies, and a few kinds of beetles and flies, however it is not active ingredient in any pest control product approved for use in Canada.
The scientific literature reports very few cases of human infection linked to Bacillus thuringiensis. Bacillus thuringiensis may be resistant to certain clinical antibiotics, but effective treatments against infection are available.

Considering all information presented in this assessment, the risk to human health from Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367 is low.
Also, considering all information presented, there is low risk of harm to organisms and the broader integrity of the environment from Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367.
The Government of Canada published the Final Screening Assessment for Bacillus Thuringiensis Strain ATCC 13367 on March 3, 2018.

As a result of this screening assessment, the Government concluded that Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367 is not harmful to human health at current levels of exposure.
The Government also concluded that Bacillus thuringiensis strain ATCC 13367 is not entering the environment at levels that are harmful to the environment.

The Government proposes that no further action under CEPA 1999 be taken on this organism in regards to potential risk to Canadians and to the environment.