8ACollection and analysis of sample from a cat

8A Collection and analysis of sample from a cat

[Section 8A Inserted by No. 25 of 2020, s. 7, Applied:01 Mar 2021]

(1)  In this section –

approved person means a person approved under subsection (2)(a) ;

intimate sample means a sample of the blood of a cat;

non-intimate sample means a sample of the saliva, cheek cells, fur, faeces or urine of a cat;

qualified person means a person approved under subsection (2)(b) ;

sample, in relation to a cat, means an intimate or non-intimate sample taken from the cat.

(2)  The Secretary or a general manager may approve –

(a) a person to collect a non-intimate sample from a cat; and

(b) a person to conduct the analysis of a sample collected in accordance with this section.

(3)  An authorised person who believes, on reasonable grounds, that an offence under section 29 has been committed in relation to a cat, may request that the Secretary, or a general manager of a council for the municipal area in which the cat is situated, authorise the collection of a sample from the cat for the purposes of determining whether the offence was committed in relation to the cat.

(4)  If the Secretary or a general manager receives a request under subsection (3) in relation to a cat, he or she may authorise –

(a) an approved person to collect a non-intimate sample from the cat; or

(b) a veterinary surgeon to collect an intimate or non-intimate sample from the cat.

(5)  If an approved person or a veterinary surgeon is authorised under subsection (4) to collect a sample from a cat –