Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 - SECT 16

Testing for diseases

16. Testing for diseases



(1) A person must not test, analyse or undertake any diagnostic examination of
any sample or specimen taken from any livestock or livestock product for the
purpose of determining whether it is infected with any disease except at
premises which have been registered by the Secretary as a veterinary
diagnostic laboratory for the testing, analysis or examination of samples or
specimens for that disease.

Penalty: 60 penalty units.

(2) A person must not submit any sample or specimen taken from any livestock
or livestock product to another person for the purpose of having that other
person test, analyse or undertake any diagnostic examination of the sample or
specimen to determine whether it is infected with any disease unless the
first-mentioned person reasonably believes that the other person will
undertake the test, analysis or examination at premises registered as a
veterinary diagnostic laboratory under subsection (1).

Penalty: 60 penalty units.

(3) The owner or person in charge of premises registered as a veterinary
diagnostic laboratory must ensure that-

   (a)  any test, analysis or diagnostic examination of any sample or specimen
        referred to in subsection (1) is carried out in accordance with any
        prescribed standards; and

   (b)  the prescribed records are kept and submitted to the Secretary in the
        prescribed time and manner.

Penalty: 60 penalty units.

(4) The owner or person in charge of premises registered as a veterinary
diagnostic laboratory must ensure that the facilities and operational
practices of the laboratory comply with any prescribed standards of
accreditation for veterinary diagnostic laboratories.

Penalty: 60 penalty units.

(5) The owner or person in charge of premises registered as a veterinary
diagnostic laboratory must comply with any direction of the Secretary to take
part in any program to test the proficiency of the facilities and operational
practices used in the laboratory or to do so jointly or collaboratively with
any other veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

Penalty: 60 penalty units.

Division 3-Agreements and contracts