diff --git a/datagateway_api/common/database/helpers.py b/datagateway_api/common/database/helpers.py
index cf682cd8..68df4267 100644
--- a/datagateway_api/common/database/helpers.py
+++ b/datagateway_api/common/database/helpers.py
@@ -202,42 +202,6 @@ def execute_query(self):
         self.commit_changes()
 
 
-class QueryFilterFactory(object):
-    @staticmethod
-    def get_query_filter(request_filter):
-        """
-        Given a filter return a matching Query filter object
-
-        This factory is not in common.filters so the created filter can be for the
-        correct backend. Moving the factory into that file would mean the filters would
-        be based off the abstract classes (because they're in the same file) which won't
-        enable filters to be unique to the backend
-
-        :param request_filter: dict - The filter to create the QueryFilter for
-        :return: The QueryFilter object created
-        """
-        filter_name = list(request_filter)[0].lower()
-        if filter_name == "where":
-            field = list(request_filter[filter_name].keys())[0]
-            operation = list(request_filter[filter_name][field].keys())[0]
-            value = request_filter[filter_name][field][operation]
-            return WhereFilter(field, value, operation)
-        elif filter_name == "order":
-            field = request_filter["order"].split(" ")[0]
-            direction = request_filter["order"].split(" ")[1]
-            return OrderFilter(field, direction)
-        elif filter_name == "skip":
-            return SkipFilter(request_filter["skip"])
-        elif filter_name == "limit":
-            return LimitFilter(request_filter["limit"])
-        elif filter_name == "include":
-            return IncludeFilter(request_filter["include"])
-        elif filter_name == "distinct":
-            return DistinctFieldFilter(request_filter["distinct"])
-        else:
-            raise FilterError(f" Bad filter: {request_filter}")
-
-
 def insert_row_into_table(table, row):
     """
     Insert the given row into its table
diff --git a/datagateway_api/common/helpers.py b/datagateway_api/common/helpers.py
index 9115b09f..55dec407 100644
--- a/datagateway_api/common/helpers.py
+++ b/datagateway_api/common/helpers.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from flask_restful import reqparse
 from sqlalchemy.exc import IntegrityError
 
-from datagateway_api.common.database.helpers import QueryFilterFactory
+from datagateway_api.common.query_filter import QueryFilterFactory
 from datagateway_api.common.exceptions import (
     ApiError,
     AuthenticationError,
diff --git a/datagateway_api/common/query_filter.py b/datagateway_api/common/query_filter.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f81067b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/datagateway_api/common/query_filter.py
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import logging
+
+from datagateway_api.common.config import config
+from datagateway_api.common.exceptions import (
+    ApiError,
+    FilterError,
+)
+
+log = logging.getLogger()
+
+
+class QueryFilterFactory(object):
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_query_filter(request_filter):
+        """
+        Given a filter return a matching Query filter object
+
+        This factory is not in common.filters so the created filter can be for the
+        correct backend. Moving the factory into that file would mean the filters would
+        be based off the abstract classes (because they're in the same file) which won't
+        enable filters to be unique to the backend
+
+        :param request_filter: dict - The filter to create the QueryFilter for
+        :return: The QueryFilter object created
+        """
+
+        backend_type = config.get_backend_type()
+        print(f"Backend inside staticmethod: {backend_type}")
+        if backend_type == "db":
+            from datagateway_api.common.database.filters import (
+                DatabaseDistinctFieldFilter as DistinctFieldFilter,
+                DatabaseIncludeFilter as IncludeFilter,
+                DatabaseLimitFilter as LimitFilter,
+                DatabaseOrderFilter as OrderFilter,
+                DatabaseSkipFilter as SkipFilter,
+                DatabaseWhereFilter as WhereFilter,
+            )
+        elif backend_type == "python_icat":
+            from datagateway_api.common.icat.filters import (
+                PythonICATDistinctFieldFilter as DistinctFieldFilter,
+                PythonICATIncludeFilter as IncludeFilter,
+                PythonICATLimitFilter as LimitFilter,
+                PythonICATOrderFilter as OrderFilter,
+                PythonICATSkipFilter as SkipFilter,
+                PythonICATWhereFilter as WhereFilter,
+            )
+        else:
+            raise ApiError(
+                "Cannot select which implementation of filters to import, check the"
+                " config file has a valid backend type",
+            )
+
+        filter_name = list(request_filter)[0].lower()
+        if filter_name == "where":
+            field = list(request_filter[filter_name].keys())[0]
+            operation = list(request_filter[filter_name][field].keys())[0]
+            value = request_filter[filter_name][field][operation]
+            return WhereFilter(field, value, operation)
+        elif filter_name == "order":
+            field = request_filter["order"].split(" ")[0]
+            direction = request_filter["order"].split(" ")[1]
+            return OrderFilter(field, direction)
+        elif filter_name == "skip":
+            return SkipFilter(request_filter["skip"])
+        elif filter_name == "limit":
+            return LimitFilter(request_filter["limit"])
+        elif filter_name == "include":
+            return IncludeFilter(request_filter["include"])
+        elif filter_name == "distinct":
+            return DistinctFieldFilter(request_filter["distinct"])
+        else:
+            raise FilterError(f" Bad filter: {request_filter}")