39Possession or administration of exotic disease agents

39 Possession or administration of exotic disease agents

S. 39(1) amended by No. 1/2024 s. 43.

(a) possess an exotic disease agent; or

(b) administer an exotic disease agent, or cause or permit the administration of an exotic disease agent, directly or indirectly, to any livestock; or

(c) threaten to administer an exotic disease agent, directly or indirectly to any livestock.

1. 3000 penalty units or 90 months imprisonment or both.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who has the authority of the Secretary to be in possession of an exotic disease agent and who is acting in accordance with the regulations.

S. 39(2A) inserted by No. 15/2022 s. 26.

(2A) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who is acting in accordance with—

(a) a direction of the Chief Health Officer within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 given under that Act; or

(b) a request made by the Chief Health Officer under section 188A of that Act.

(3) In this section, exotic disease agent means any pathogen, agent or organism that is capable of causing an exotic disease in livestock.