Privacy Policy
Last Updated: May 15, 2026
AFSBio Inc. operates this store and website, including all related information, content, features, tools, products and services, in order to provide you, the customer, with a curated shopping experience (the "Services"). AFSBio Inc. is powered by Shopify, which enables us to provide the Services to you. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and disclose your personal information when you visit, use, or make a purchase or other transaction using the Services or otherwise communicate with us. If there is a conflict between our Terms of Service and this Privacy Policy, this Privacy Policy controls with respect to the collection, processing, and disclosure of your personal information.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using and accessing any of the Services, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy and understand the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.
Research Use Only (RUO): All products sold by AFSBio Inc. are for Research Use Only. Personal information collected for RUO verification will not be used to validate the clinical safety of any product. The customer assumes all risk for non-research applications.
1. Personal Information We Collect or Process
When we use the term "personal information," we are referring to information that identifies or can reasonably be linked to you or another person. Personal information does not include information that is collected anonymously or that has been de-identified. We may collect or process the following categories of personal information, depending on how you interact with the Services, where you live, and as permitted or required by applicable law:
• Contact details:
◦ Name, address, billing address, shipping address, phone number, and email address
• Financial information:
◦ Credit card, debit card, and financial account numbers, payment card information, transaction details, and payment confirmation
• Account information:
◦ Username, password, security questions, preferences and settings
• Transaction information:
◦ Items you view, add to your cart, add to your wishlist, purchase, return, exchange or cancel, and your past transactions
• Communications:
◦ Information you include in communications with us, such as customer support inquiries
• Device information:
◦ Information about your device, browser, or network connection, IP address, and other unique identifiers
• Usage information:
◦ Information regarding your interaction with the Services, including how and when you access or navigate the Services
Biotech and Professional Compliance Data
In addition to standard transaction details, we collect information necessary to comply with safety regulations and trade restrictions governing laboratory and research supplies. The legal basis for collecting this sensitive data is contractual necessity - without it, we cannot fulfill orders for restricted-use products or comply with applicable export controls.
• Professional Credentials:
◦ Institutional affiliations (e.g., University or Lab name), Principal Investigator (PI) names, and professional license numbers
• End-Use Verification:
◦ End-Use Certificates or declarations to ensure products are used solely for legitimate research and comply with international export controls
• Institutional Verification:
◦ Institutional information (such as university or company affiliations) to verify that the intended use of products aligns with our Research Use Only policy and to prevent unauthorized residential delivery
Important: Users are responsible for the accuracy of institutional data such as PI names. Errors can cause regulatory shipping delays.
2. Personal Information Sources
We may collect personal information from the following sources:
• Directly from you:
◦ When you create an account, visit or use the Services, communicate with us, or otherwise provide us with your personal information
• Automatically through the Services:
◦ From your device when you use our products or services or visit our websites, and through the use of cookies and similar technologies (see Section 4 below)
• From our service providers:
◦ When we engage them to enable certain technology and when they collect or process your personal information on our behalf
• From our partners or other third parties.
3. How We Use Your Personal Information
Depending on how you interact with us or which of the Services you use, we may use personal information for the following purposes:
• Provide, Tailor, and Improve the Services:
◦ To process payments, fulfill orders, manage your account, arrange shipping, facilitate returns and exchanges, enable product reviews, and create a customized shopping experience
• RUO Compliance and Export Controls:
◦ To verify your professional credentials and institutional affiliations, issue or collect End-Use Certificates, and comply with applicable international export regulations. This processing is based on contractual necessity and legal obligation
• Marketing and Advertising:
◦ To send marketing, advertising and promotional communications by email, text message, or postal mail, and to show you online advertisements based on your activity on the Services. You may opt out at any time
• Security and Fraud Prevention:
◦ To authenticate your account, provide a secure payment environment, and detect, investigate, or act regarding possible fraudulent, illegal, unsafe, or malicious activity
• Communicating with You:
◦ To provide customer support, respond to your inquiries, and maintain our business relationship
• Legal Reasons:
◦ To comply with applicable law, respond to valid legal process including requests from law enforcement, and enforce or investigate potential violations of our terms or policies
4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We and our service providers (including Shopify and our advertising partners) use cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar tracking technologies when you visit or interact with the Services. This section explains what these technologies are, what we use them for, and how you can control them.
Types of Cookies We Use
• Strictly Necessary Cookies:
◦ Required for the Services to function. These include session cookies that keep you logged in and shopping cart cookies. These cannot be disabled.
• Performance and Analytics Cookies:
◦ Help us understand how visitors interact with the Services (e.g., which pages are visited most). We use Shopify's analytics tools for this purpose.
• Functional Cookies:
◦ Remember your preferences and settings (e.g., language, region, items you have previously viewed).
• Targeting and Advertising Cookies:
◦ Used to deliver advertisements relevant to your interests on the Services and on other websites. These are placed by our advertising partners and are subject to their own privacy policies.
Your Cookie Choices
You can control and manage cookies in several ways:
• Browser settings: Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Services.
• Opt-out of targeted advertising: You may opt out of the use of your data for targeted advertising purposes here: https://afsbio.com/pages/data-sharing-opt-out (US clients) or directly with Shopify here: https://privacy.shopify.com/ (global clients). We also honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal - visit https://globalprivacycontrol.org/ for more information.
• Shopify cookies: Shopify sets cookies on our behalf to enable core e-commerce functionality. For more information on Shopify's use of cookies, please visit the Shopify Consumer Privacy Policy: https://www.shopify.com/ca/legal/privacy/app-users
Do Not Track
Other than the Global Privacy Control, we do not currently recognize "Do Not Track" signals transmitted by web browsers or devices, as there is no industry-standard approach to responding to such signals.
5. How We Disclose Personal Information
In certain circumstances, we may disclose your personal information to third parties for legitimate purposes subject to this Privacy Policy. Such circumstances may include:
• Service Providers:
◦ Vendors and other third parties who perform services on our behalf (e.g., IT management, payment processing, data analytics, customer support, cloud storage, fulfillment and shipping), including Shopify.
• Business and Marketing Partners:
◦ To provide marketing services and personalized advertising. Our business and marketing partners will use your information in accordance with their own privacy notices. You may opt out of targeted advertising as described in Section 4.
• At Your Direction:
◦ When you direct, request, or otherwise consent to our disclosure of certain information to third parties, such as through social media widgets or login integrations.
• Affiliates:
◦ Within our corporate group.
• Business Transactions:
◦ In connection with a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
• Legal Requirements:
◦ To comply with applicable legal obligations, respond to subpoenas, search warrants, and similar legal process, enforce our Terms of Service, and protect or defend our rights or the rights of our users.
Order Fulfillment and Dropshipping
To fulfill your orders, we share necessary personal and professional information with our third-party suppliers and fulfillment partners. This includes:
• Shipment Details: The name of the Principal Investigator (PI), the laboratory or institution name, Purchase Order Number (as needed), phone number (as needed), email address (as needed) and the specific delivery address.
• Compliance Data: Professional credentials or End-Use Certificates required by the manufacturer to release restricted biotech products.
• Logistics Providers: Information required for specialized handling.
We ensure our fulfillment partners are contractually obligated to use this information only for fulfillment and shipping purposes and are prohibited from using it for independent marketing or secondary purposes.
Manufacturer & Technical Support Disclosure
As a specialized reseller, we may disclose specific contact and transaction information to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of the products you purchase. This disclosure is strictly limited to:
• Warranty & Support: To ensure equipment is properly registered for warranties and to facilitate direct troubleshooting between your staff and the manufacturer's technical experts.
• Name and Address: To ensure products and services are delivered.
• Updates & Documentation: To ensure you receive critical software or firmware updates and scientific documentation such as Certificates of Analysis (CoA) or Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
6. Data Retention
How long we retain your personal information depends on the type of data and the purpose for which it was collected. We retain information only for as long as necessary to fulfill those purposes, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by applicable law. The following specific retention periods apply:
• Transaction and Order Records:
◦ Retained for a minimum of 7 years from the date of transaction to comply with financial, tax, and accounting obligations.
• Professional Credentials and End-Use Certificates:
◦ Retained for a minimum of 5 years from the date of the relevant transaction to comply with export control regulations (including U.S. Export Administration Regulations where applicable) and other applicable regulatory requirements governing laboratory and research supply distribution.
• Account Information:
◦ Retained for the duration of your account relationship with us, plus a reasonable period thereafter to allow for account reactivation or dispute resolution.
• Marketing Data:
◦ Retained until you opt out of marketing communications or request deletion, subject to any legal hold or regulatory exception.
• Device and Usage Data:
◦ Typically retained for up to 13 months for analytics purposes.
When personal information is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it securely.
7. Relationship with Shopify
The Services are hosted by Shopify, which collects and processes personal information about your access to and use of the Services in order to provide and improve the Services for you. Information you submit to the Services will be transmitted to and shared with Shopify as well as third parties that may be located in countries other than where you reside.
To help protect, grow, and improve our business, we use certain Shopify enhanced features that incorporate data and information obtained from your interactions with our store, along with other merchants and with Shopify. In these circumstances, Shopify is responsible for the processing of your personal information, including for responding to your requests to exercise your rights for these purposes.
To learn more about how Shopify uses your personal information and to exercise your rights, visit the Shopify Consumer Privacy Policy or the Shopify Privacy Portal.
8. Security and Retention of Your Information
We implement and maintain commercially reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect your personal information - including your professional credentials and institutional data - from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include encrypted transmission of payment data via Shopify, access controls limiting who can view sensitive professional credentials, and contractual data security obligations imposed on our service providers.
Please be aware that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. We recommend that you do not use unsecure channels to communicate sensitive or confidential information to us, and that you keep your account credentials confidential.
9. Third-Party Websites and Links
The Services may provide links to websites or other online platforms operated by third parties. If you follow links to sites not affiliated or controlled by us, you should review their privacy and security policies and other terms and conditions. We do not guarantee and are not responsible for the privacy or security of such sites, including the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of information found on these sites. Our inclusion of such links does not imply any endorsement of the content on such platforms or of their owners or operators, except as disclosed on the Services.
10. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the rights listed below in relation to your personal information. These rights are not absolute, may apply only in certain circumstances, and in certain cases we may decline your request as permitted by law.
• Right to Access / Know: You may request access to personal information that we hold about you.
• Right to Delete: You may request that we delete personal information we maintain about you, subject to legal and regulatory exceptions.
• Right to Correct: You may request that we correct inaccurate personal information we maintain about you.
• Right of Portability: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you and ask that we transfer it to a third party, in certain circumstances and with certain exceptions.
• Right to Opt Out of Targeted Advertising: Depending on where you reside, you may have a right to opt out of the use of your personal information for targeted advertising. You can exercise this right here: https://afsbio.com/pages/data-sharing-opt-out (US clients) or directly through Shopify here: https://privacy.shopify.com/ (global clients). We honor the Global Privacy Control signal.
• Managing Communication Preferences: You may opt out of promotional emails at any time by using the unsubscribe option in our emails. We may still send non-promotional emails about your account or orders.
You may exercise any of these rights where indicated on the Services or by contacting us at . We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. You may also designate an authorized agent to make requests on your behalf, subject to verification.
11. Supplemental Notice for United States Residents
This section applies solely to residents of U.S. states with comprehensive consumer privacy laws, including California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Texas, and others. It supplements the general information above and is intended to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and related state frameworks.
I. Categories of Personal Information Collected and Disclosed
Within the preceding 12 months, we have collected and disclosed for business purposes (specifically order fulfillment, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance) the following categories:
• Identifiers: Name, email address, shipping/billing address, phone number, and IP address.
• Commercial Information: Records of products viewed, placed in carts, or purchased.
• Financial Data: Credit/debit card numbers and transactional settlement details, processed securely via Shopify.
• Internet or Network Activity: Browsing behavior, pages visited, and usage data collected via cookies and Shopify analytics.
• Sensitive Personal Information: Professional credentials, institutional laboratory affiliations, Principal Investigator (PI) names, and professional license or account numbers required for RUO verification.
II. No Sale or Sharing of Personal Information
We do not sell your personal information for monetary compensation. While we utilize Shopify's backend systems to process analytics and facilitate order routing, we do not share your personal data or sensitive credentials with third parties for cross-context behavioral advertising or independent corporate marketing.
III. Your California and U.S. State Privacy Rights
I. Right to Know & Access: Request a disclosure of the specific categories and pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
II. Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information we have collected, subject to legal and regulatory transactional exceptions (e.g., maintaining records of specialized laboratory distribution).
III. Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate professional or contact information.
IV. Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Data: Limit our use of Sensitive Personal Information. Note that our processing of professional credentials and institutional data is strictly limited to verifying RUO status, which is necessary to fulfill our contract with you.
V. Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your privacy rights.
IV. How to Exercise Your Rights
To submit a verifiable consumer request, please email us at or use our web contact form. We will verify your identity using data associated with your professional or laboratory store account. We will respond within 45 days of receipt, or as otherwise required by applicable law.
12. Supplemental Notice for Canadian Residents
This section applies to residents of Canada and supplements the general information above. It is intended to comply with Canada's federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Quebec's Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector (Law 25), which came into full force in September 2023.
I. Consent
Where required by applicable Canadian law, we obtain your meaningful consent before or at the time of collecting personal information. For collection of sensitive professional credentials, our legal basis is contractual necessity - your consent is implied by entering into a transaction with us that requires RUO verification. You may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal and contractual restrictions (e.g., withdrawal may prevent order fulfillment). Contact our Privacy Officer to withdraw consent at .
II. Quebec Law 25 Specific Requirements
• Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs): We conduct privacy impact assessments before implementing new technologies or processes that involve collecting, using, or disclosing personal information, as required under Quebec Law 25.
• Automated Decision-Making: Where personal information is used in any automated decision-making process that has a significant impact on you, we will inform you of this fact upon request and explain the factors that led to the decision.
• Anonymization and Destruction: When personal information is no longer required for its original purpose, we anonymize it in accordance with generally accepted standards or destroy it securely.
• Privacy by Default: Our systems and processes are designed to provide the highest level of confidentiality by default, without any action required on your part.
III. Your Canadian Privacy Rights
I. Right to Access: You may request access to your personal information and information about how it has been or may be used or disclosed.
II. Right to Correction: You may request that inaccurate personal information be corrected.
III. Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw consent to the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions.
IV. Right to Complain: You may file a complaint with our Privacy Officer or directly with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) at www.priv.gc.ca. Quebec residents may also complain to the Commission d'acces a l'information (CAI) at www.cai.gouv.qc.ca.
IV. How to Exercise Your Canadian Privacy Rights
Contact our Privacy Compliance Officer (Ivana Gvozdic) at or by mail at the address in Section 16. We will respond within 30 days of receipt of your request, as required by PIPEDA.
13. Supplemental Notice for Australian Residents
This section applies to residents of Australia and supplements the general information above. It is intended to comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
I. Open and Transparent Management (APP 1)
We are committed to managing personal information openly and transparently. This Privacy Policy sets out the kinds of personal information we collect and hold, the purposes for which we collect and hold it, how you may access and correct it, how you may complain about a breach of the APPs, and whether we disclose personal information to overseas recipients.
II. Notification of Collection (APP 5)
At or before the time we collect personal information from you (or as soon as practicable thereafter), we will take reasonable steps to ensure you are aware of: the identity and contact details of AFSBio Inc.; the purposes for which we are collecting the information; the consequences if you do not provide the information; any other entities or types of entities to whom we usually disclose the information; and your right to access and correct the information.
III. Direct Marketing Opt-Out (APP 7)
We may use your personal information for direct marketing purposes only where we have your consent or where it is impracticable to seek consent, and where we provide a simple means for you to opt out. You may opt out of direct marketing communications at any time by:
• Using the unsubscribe link in any marketing email we send to you.
• Contacting us at and requesting removal from our marketing list.
If you opt out, we will process your request within a reasonable time. We will not charge you for the opt-out request.
IV. Cross-Border Disclosure (APP 8)
We transfer personal information outside Australia to Shopify (Canada/USA) and potentially to manufacturers or logistics providers in other jurisdictions. We take all reasonable steps to ensure that overseas recipients handle your personal information in a manner consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles, including through contractual safeguards requiring equivalent protections.
V. Your Australian Privacy Rights
I. Right to Access: You may request access to the personal information we hold about you.
II. Right to Correction: You may request that inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading personal information be corrected.
III. Right to Complain: You may complain to our Privacy Officer in the first instance. If your complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.
VI. Data Breach Notification
In the event of an eligible data breach that is likely to result in serious harm to any affected individuals, we will notify the affected individuals and the OAIC as soon as practicable and in accordance with the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme under Part IIIC of the Privacy Act 1988.
14. Supplemental Notice for New Zealand Residents
This section applies to residents of New Zealand and supplements the general information above. It is intended to comply with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Information Privacy Principles (IPPs).
I. Collection of Personal Information
We collect personal information directly from you wherever reasonably practicable. Where we collect personal information from third parties or indirectly, we will take reasonable steps to ensure you are made aware of the collection. We only collect personal information that is necessary for our business functions and activities.
II. Your New Zealand Privacy Rights
I. Right to Access: You have the right to request access to personal information we hold about you. We will respond within 20 working days of receiving your request.
II. Right to Correction: You have the right to request correction of personal information we hold about you that is inaccurate, incomplete, misleading, or not up to date.
III. Right to Complain: You may complain to our Privacy Officer in the first instance. If your complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may contact the New Zealand Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) at www.privacy.org.nz.
III. Cross-Border Disclosure (Principle 12)
We transfer personal information outside New Zealand to Shopify (Canada/USA) and potentially to manufacturers or logistics providers in other jurisdictions. We ensure that all cross-border transfers are governed by strict contractual safeguards providing comparable protections to those required by the Privacy Act 2020.
IV. Mandatory Data Breach Notification
In the event of a privacy breach that has caused, or is likely to cause, serious harm to one or more individuals, we will notify the affected individuals and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner as soon as reasonably practicable, in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020.
15. International Transfers
We transfer, store, and process your personal information outside of your home country via our e-commerce host, Shopify, and through our manufacturer and logistics partners. Depending on your location, your personal information may be transferred to and stored in Canada, the United States, or other countries that may not provide the same level of data protection as your home jurisdiction.
We take appropriate safeguards to ensure that your personal information remains protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law, including through contractual protections imposed on our service providers, fulfillment partners, and manufacturers.
16. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, including to reflect changes to our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post the revised Privacy Policy on this website, update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this Policy, and provide notice as required by applicable law. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
17. Contact
For more information about our privacy practices, if you have questions, or if you would like to make a request or a complaint regarding your personal information, please contact our Privacy Compliance Officer:
By Email:
In accordance with CASL, this email address does not consent to receiving unsolicited commercial messages (CEMs); suppliers must use our contact form.
By Mail:
AFSBio Inc.
ATTN: Ivana Gvozdic, Privacy Officer
407-360 Ridelle Ave.
Toronto, ON, Canada, M6B 1K1
We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days, as required by applicable law. For time-sensitive matters arising under Quebec Law 25 or the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, we aim to respond more promptly.
Terms of Service
Effective Date: May 27, 2026 | Version Number 2.5
OVERVIEW
This website is operated by AFSBio Inc. Throughout the site, the terms “we”, “us” and “our” refer to AFSBio Inc. AFSBio Inc. offers this website, including all information, tools and Services available from this site to you, the user, conditioned upon your acceptance of all terms, conditions, policies and notices stated here. By visiting our site and/or purchasing something from us, you engage in our “Service” and agree to be bound by the following Terms of Service (“Terms”), including those additional terms and conditions and policies referenced herein and/or available by hyperlink. These Terms apply to all users of the site. If you do not agree, you may not access the site or use the Services. We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Continued use constitutes acceptance. Our store is hosted on Shopify Inc.
SECTION 1 – ONLINE STORE TERMS
By agreeing to these Terms, you represent that you are the age of majority in your jurisdiction and are an authorized purchasing agent acting on behalf of a legitimate laboratory, university, hospital, research institution, or corporate entity. You agree not to use our products for any unlawful or unauthorized purpose and not to violate any applicable laws. A breach will result in immediate termination of Services.
AFSBio Inc. reserves the right to require documentary verification of institutional affiliation, purchasing authority, and applicable licenses prior to fulfilling any order. This may include, without limitation, copies of institutional purchase orders, biosafety committee approvals, relevant regulatory permits, or government-issued identification confirming authorized representative status. Failure to provide requested documentation within five (5) business days may result in order cancellation without liability to AFSBio Inc.
SECTION 2 – PRODUCTS, INTENDED USE, AND COMPLIANCE
All products are for Research Use Only (RUO) unless explicitly stated otherwise. You represent that you are a qualified institutional entity holding all required licenses, permits, and approvals under applicable law, including without limitation: (i) in Canada, applicable federal and provincial biosafety and controlled substance regulations; (ii) in the United States, the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act, the Public Health Service Act, Select Agent regulations (42 C.F.R. Part 73 and 9 C.F.R. Part 121), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR, 15 C.F.R. Parts 730–774), and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR, 22 C.F.R. Parts 120–130) where applicable; (iii) in Australia, the Gene Technology Act 2000 (Cth), the National Health Security Act 2007 (Cth), and applicable state biosafety legislation; and (iv) in New Zealand, the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act). You further represent that your facilities meet all required biosafety level (BSL) standards for the materials ordered and that all applicable institutional biosafety committee approvals are in place. Product data and protocols are informational only and provided without performance guarantees. You agree to comply with all applicable health, safety, environmental, and hazardous materials laws. You agree not to resell, redistribute, broker, or otherwise transfer products to any third party, including through online marketplaces (including but not limited to Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, or similar platforms), without prior written consent. We reserve the right to refuse sales based on risk or regulatory concerns.
SECTION 3 – INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
All content, including product designs, formulations, sequences, protocols, data sheets, trademarks, and materials are the exclusive property of AFSBio Inc. or its licensors and are protected by intellectual property laws. No rights or licenses are granted except for limited use consistent with these Terms. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or exploitation is strictly prohibited.
SECTION 4 – BILLING, ORDERS, AND ACCOUNT INFORMATION
We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order. You agree to provide accurate account and payment information. Purchases must align with institutional laboratory use. Transactions must be completed in the designated regional currency. Where payment is received in an incorrect currency, AFSBio Inc. reserves the right to issue a supplemental invoice for any shortfall resulting from currency conversion. Overpayments attributable solely to currency error will be refunded net of applicable bank and conversion fees within thirty (30) days of written notice from the Buyer. Temperature-sensitive, custom, and perishable items are non-returnable and non-refundable. Custom orders cannot be cancelled after production begins. Approved returns may incur up to a 20% restocking fee.
SECTION 5 – PAYMENT TERMS AND COLLECTION
All payments are due as specified at checkout or on invoice. Overdue balances may accrue interest at the maximum legal rate. You agree to pay all collection costs, including legal fees. We reserve the right to suspend services or future orders for non-payment.
SECTION 6 – SHIPPING AND DELIVERY
For temperature-sensitive products, Buyer must inspect shipments immediately upon receipt and notify AFSBio Inc. of any suspected cold-chain failure, visible product degradation, or temperature excursion within forty-eight (48) hours of delivery. Notification must be provided in writing and must include photographic documentation of the shipment, packaging, and any available temperature monitoring data. Failure to provide timely notice will constitute acceptance of the shipment and waiver of any related claim. AFSBio Inc. will have no obligation to replace or refund products where timely notice is not provided.
Shipments are made under Incoterms 2020 as follows: (i) for shipments within the United States and Canada, delivery shall be made on a Delivered at Place (DAP) basis, with AFSBio Inc. responsible for arranging transportation and customs brokerage; and (ii) for shipments to Australia and New Zealand, delivery shall be made on a Delivered at Place (DAP) basis, with the Buyer acting as importer of record and responsible for all applicable import duties, taxes, and local charges.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, risk of temperature excursion, degradation, or improper post-delivery handling shall transfer to the Buyer immediately upon physical delivery of the shipment to the destination address.
AFSBio Inc. shall not be liable for delays, seizures, rejections, or additional costs arising from customs clearance processes, regulatory inspections, or import compliance issues.
Where AFSBio Inc. arranges customs clearance or brokerage services on behalf of the Buyer, such services are provided as a convenience only, and the Buyer remains the importer of record unless otherwise explicitly agreed in writing.
SECTION 7 – FORCE MAJEURE
We are not liable for failure or delay caused by events beyond our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, supply chain disruptions, customs delays, regulatory actions, labor disruptions, or cyber incidents.
SECTION 8 – OPTIONAL TOOLS
Third-party tools are provided “as is” without warranties. Use is at your own risk.
SECTION 9 – THIRD-PARTY LINKS
We are not responsible for third-party content, services, or transactions.
SECTION 10 – USER SUBMISSIONS
You grant AFSBio Inc. a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, and incorporate into its products and services any non-confidential, non-proprietary feedback, suggestions, or comments you voluntarily submit. This license does not apply to feedback that you designate in writing as confidential or proprietary at the time of submission, or to any experimental data, research results, or proprietary scientific information included in such submissions. You agree not to submit unlawful, misleading, or harmful content.
SECTION 11 – PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION
Personal information collected through this website and in connection with orders is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and all applicable privacy and data protection laws, including without limitation: (i) the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy legislation in Canada; (ii) the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), as well as other applicable US state privacy laws including the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) and Colorado Privacy Act (CPA); (iii) the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable to European data subjects; (iv) the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Australian Privacy Principles in Australia; and (v) the Privacy Act 2020 in New Zealand. Our Privacy Policy is incorporated by reference into these Terms and is available on our website.
SECTION 12 – ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
We reserve the right to correct errors, inaccuracies, or omissions and cancel orders if necessary.
SECTION 13 – PROHIBITED USES
You may not use the site for unlawful purposes, intellectual property infringement, harassment, fraud, malware, scraping, data extraction, or AI/ML training without prior written consent. The prohibition on use of site content for artificial intelligence or machine learning training purposes applies to all content on this website, including but not limited to product descriptions, technical data sheets, protocols, pricing, and user interface elements, regardless of the method of collection. AFSBio Inc. expressly reserves all rights in such content under applicable intellectual property laws. This prohibition is in addition to, and does not limit, the terms of AFSBio Inc.'s robots.txt file and any applicable website use policies.
SECTION 14 – DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
Services and products are provided “as is” without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation or experimental success.
SECTION 15 – NO RELIANCE
You acknowledge you are not relying on AFSBio Inc. for experimental design, results, regulatory compliance, or scientific conclusions. All use is at your own risk.
SECTION 16 – LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
To the maximum extent permitted by law, AFSBio Inc. shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages. Total liability shall not exceed the purchase price paid for the specific product giving rise to the claim. In no event shall the aggregate liability of AFSBio Inc. arising out of or relating to these Terms exceed the total amount paid by the Buyer to AFSBio Inc. in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.
SECTION 17 – INSURANCE
Buyer is responsible for maintaining appropriate insurance coverage, including laboratory and liability insurance.
SECTION 18 – INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless AFSBio Inc. from any claims arising from your use, misuse, or breach of these Terms.
SECTION 19 – REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND CONTROLLED MATERIALS
You agree to comply with all applicable biosafety, biosecurity, hazardous material, and controlled substance regulations and confirm that all required licenses and approvals are in place.
SECTION 20 – AUDIT AND VERIFICATION
We reserve the right to request documentation verifying regulatory compliance. Failure to provide such documentation may result in refusal of service or cancellation of orders.
SECTION 21 – SEVERABILITY
Invalid provisions shall not affect the remainder of the Terms.
SECTION 22 – TERMINATION
We may terminate access at any time for violations of these Terms. Obligations incurred prior to termination survive.
SECTION 23 – DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND VENUE
All disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or any purchase made hereunder shall be resolved as follows:
• Canada: Disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered in Ontario, Canada, under the rules of the ADR Institute of Canada. Courts in Ontario have exclusive jurisdiction for the purposes of injunctive or other equitable relief.
• United States: Disputes involving US-domiciled buyers shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, seated in Ontario, Canada unless otherwise required by applicable law or agreed in writing by the parties.
• Australia and New Zealand: Nothing in this section limits any right a consumer may have under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2, Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)), the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (NZ), or other non-excludable statutory rights. To the extent that mandatory arbitration is unenforceable under applicable law with respect to such statutory claims, those claims may be brought in the courts of the applicable jurisdiction.
In all cases, each party irrevocably waives any right to a jury trial in connection with any dispute under these Terms, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
SECTION 24 – PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS
These Terms apply to all purchases, including those made through ERP systems, procurement tools, or automated purchasing systems.
SECTION 25 – ENTIRE AGREEMENT
These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and AFSBio Inc.
SECTION 26 – GOVERNING LAW
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and applicable federal laws of Canada.
SECTION 27 – CHANGES TO TERMS
We may update these Terms at any time. Continued use constitutes acceptance.
SECTION 28 – EXPORT CONTROLS AND SANCTIONS, COMPLIANCE REPRESENTATIONS
You agree to comply with all export control and sanctions laws and not to transfer products to restricted parties or jurisdictions or for prohibited uses including military, nuclear, or biological weapons applications.
By placing an order, Buyer represents and warrants that: (i) it is not listed on, and is not owned or controlled by any party listed on, any sanctions list maintained by the Government of Canada (including lists under the Special Economic Measures Act and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act), the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, or any other applicable sanctions authority; (ii) it is not located in, organized under the laws of, or ordinarily resident in any jurisdiction subject to comprehensive sanctions; and (iii) no products purchased under these Terms will be used in, transferred to, or for the benefit of any sanctioned party or jurisdiction. AFSBio Inc. reserves the right to cancel any order or terminate any account where it has reason to believe this representation is or has become inaccurate, without liability.
SECTION 29 – REGIONAL COMPLIANCE (AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND)
AUSTRALIA: Our products and services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth). For major failures, you are entitled to a replacement or refund and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. For failures that are not major, you are entitled to have the failure remedied within a reasonable time. Where we are permitted to limit our liability under the ACL, our liability is limited to: (i) in the case of goods, replacement, repair, or the cost of replacement or repair; and (ii) in the case of services, re-supply or the cost of re-supply. Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude, restrict, or modify rights that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted, or modified.
NEW ZEALAND: Our products and services come with guarantees under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (CGA) and Fair Trading Act 1986 that cannot be excluded for consumer transactions. To the extent permitted by applicable law, our liability for breach of any guarantee implied by the CGA is limited to repair, replacement, or refund of the purchase price. Where the Buyer is acquiring products for the purposes of a business, the parties agree that the CGA shall not apply, and the Buyer waives all rights and remedies under the CGA to the fullest extent permitted by law.
In both jurisdictions, the Buyer (as importer of record) is solely responsible for compliance with all applicable import licensing, biosafety, and customs requirements. AFSBio Inc. makes no representation that its products are approved or licensed for importation into Australia or New Zealand, and Buyer is responsible for obtaining all necessary permits prior to placing an order.
SECTION 30 – CONTACT INFORMATION
AFSBio Inc.
407-360 Ridelle Ave. Toronto, ON, Canada. M6B1K1
+1 416 939 6595
In accordance with CASL, this email address does not consent to receiving unsolicited commercial messages (CEMs); suppliers must use our contact form.
Return and Refund Policy
Last Updated: June 30, 2026
At AFSBio, we supply research-use-only (RUO) products sourced directly from global manufacturers. As a result, all returns, replacements, and refunds are subject to the specific policies and approval of the original supplier.
1. Immediate Notification Requirement
All issues must be reported promptly upon receipt of the shipment.
- Damaged or Defective Items: Must be reported within 72 hours of delivery
- Incorrect Items or Shipping Errors: Must be reported within 5 business days of delivery
- Temperature Excursions or Cold-Chain Concerns: Must be reported within 24 hours of delivery
If you're unable to inspect a shipment within these windows due to lab closure, holiday, or staffing, contact us before the deadline. Any extension is subject to supplier approval and is not guaranteed. Failure to notify AFSBio within these timeframes may result in the claim being denied in accordance with supplier requirements.
2. How to Submit a Claim
To initiate a claim, contact our support team ( or through our Google Form: https://forms.gle/Bt3nKCF8Tgeq8ar26) with the following:
- Order number and invoice details
- Product catalogue number and batch/lot number
- Clear description of the issue
Supporting documentation (may be required for evaluation), such as:
- Photos of packaging, labeling, and condition upon arrival
- Temperature logger data (if applicable)
- Experimental data (for performance-related concerns)
- For performance-related concerns, we may request supporting data such as control results. We will specify exactly what's needed when we contact you after the claim is filed.
- For performance-related concerns, we may request supporting data such as control results. We will specify exactly what's needed when we contact you after the claim is filed.
We aim to acknowledge receipt of your claim within 1 business day. An automated confirmation will be sent upon submission, followed by a manual review if additional information is required. We aim to provide an estimated resolution timeline within 5 business days after initial review. If documentation is incomplete, we'll follow up to help you gather what's needed before any decision is reached. Filing a claim begins the review process but does not guarantee a specific outcome.
3. Evaluation and Resolution
All claims are reviewed in coordination with the original supplier.
AFSBio does not independently guarantee outcomes, as final decisions are subject to supplier approval.
Depending on the outcome, AFSBio may offer one of the following remedies:
- Replacement, store credit, or refund (where permitted by the supplier), which may be subject to restocking or handling fees
- Fees, when applicable, will be disclosed before any deduction is made
- Denial of the claim if supplier conditions are not met
Where multiple remedies are available, we will take your preference into account.
If the supplier's investigation is inconclusive or remedy is unreasonably delayed beyond 30 days, AFSBio may, at its discretion, offer store credit. We aim to provide status updates approximately every 10 business days while a claim is pending with the supplier.
4. Return Authorization (RMA Required)
Returns are only accepted with prior written authorization.
Do not return any product without an official Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA).
Unauthorized returns will not be processed.
Approved returns must follow the specific instructions provided (including shipping method and temperature control)
5. Non-Returnable Items
Due to the nature of research reagents:
- Temperature-sensitive products (e.g., shipped on dry ice, -20°C, or 4°C) are generally non-returnable unless proven defective at delivery
- Custom or made-to-order products are non-returnable and non-refundable
- Opened or used products cannot be returned unless confirmed defective
Items confirmed defective on arrival are eligible for replacement or credit regardless of temperature-sensitivity or custom status.
6. Important Notes
AFSBio acts as an intermediary between the customer and manufacturer.
Many products cannot be resold once shipped.
AFSBio or supplier will cover return shipping costs for confirmed defective or incorrect items; customer-requested returns outside these categories may incur shipping costs to the customer.
Claims based on experimental outcomes may require validation and are assessed case-by-case by the supplier.
AFSBio is not responsible for product degradation resulting from improper handling or storage after delivery, or for issues reported after the notification windows defined in Section 1 have expired.
The following section sets out the legal limits of AFSBio’s liability and does not expand or modify the remedies described above:
7. Limitation of Liability and Product Warranties
Intermediary Role: AFSBio operates as a distributor and intermediary between the customer and third-party manufacturers.
No Independent Warranties: AFSBio makes no independent warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. All product warranties, if any, are provided solely by the original supplier.
Exclusion of Consequential Damages: In no event shall AFSBio be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages. This includes, but is not limited to, including but not limited to loss of research data, lost laboratory time, failed experiments, or loss of related reagents.
Maximum Liability Cap: AFSBio’s total aggregate liability for any approved claim related to a product shall not exceed the purchase price paid for that product, except where prohibited by applicable law.
If unsatisfied with the outcome, you may request a second review by AFSBio. Send an email to with “Escalation” in the subject line for review by a senior member. In accordance with CASL, this email address does not consent to receiving unsolicited commercial messages (CEMs); suppliers must use our contact form.