50Director‑General of the CDC may direct entity to dispose of security‑sensitive biological agents

50 Director‑General of the CDC may direct entity to dispose of security‑sensitive biological agents

(1) This section applies in relation to a report given to the Director‑General of the CDC by a registered entity under section 48 if: (a) the Director‑General made a request under paragraph 49(2)(a); and (b) the entity did not comply with the request within the period allowed under that paragraph. (2) The Director‑General of the CDC may, if the Director‑General considers it appropriate, give a written direction to the entity, requiring the entity, within the period specified in the direction or such longer period as the Director‑General allows, to dispose of its entire holdings of a security‑sensitive biological agent to which the report relates.

Note 1: Disposal would not be appropriate if the entity’s entire holdings of that security‑sensitive biological agent have already been disposed of, or were lost or stolen.

Note 2: The Director‑General of the CDC may also direct a particular individual not to handle security‑sensitive biological agents: see section 59.

Note 3: Failure to comply with a direction to dispose of a security‑sensitive biological agent is an offence: see section 51.

(3) A period specified in a direction given under subsection (2) must be reasonable having regard to the circumstances.