19Issuing prescription for Schedule 4, 8 or 9 poison—veterinary practitioner

19 Issuing prescription for Schedule 4, 8 or 9 poison—veterinary practitioner

A veterinary practitioner must not issue a prescription for a Schedule 4 poison, Schedule 8 poison or Schedule 9 poison unless—

(a) that prescription is for the treatment of an animal—

(i) under the veterinary practitioner's care; and

(ii) described in the prescription; and

(b) the veterinary practitioner has taken all reasonable steps to ensure a therapeutic need exists for that poison; and

(c) if the poison is a drug of dependence, a Schedule 8 poison or a Schedule 9 poison, the veterinary practitioner has taken all reasonable steps to ascertain the identity of the person who owns or has custody or care of the animal for whose treatment the prescription is issued; and

(d) in the case of a Schedule 9 poison, the veterinary practitioner holds a general Schedule 9 permit that authorises the issuing of the prescription.

Regulation 27 separately provides for a veterinary practitioner who issues an order to a stock food manufacturer to supply a stock food containing a Schedule 4 poison.