4Restricted acts of veterinary science

4 Restricted acts of veterinary science

4 Restricted acts of veterinary science

(1) The following acts of veterinary science are declared to be restricted acts of veterinary science for the purposes of the Act—

(a) examination of or attendance on any animal

the examination of or attendance on any animal for the purpose of diagnosing the physiological or pathological condition of the animal, including for the purpose of diagnosing pregnancy in a horse, but not for the purpose of diagnosing pregnancy in any other animal,

(b) treatments, procedures or tests that require anaesthesia etc

the carrying out of any treatment, procedure or test on an animal that, according to current standards of the practice of veterinary science, to avoid harm or suffering to the animal, should not be undertaken without anaesthetising the animal (otherwise than by a topical anaesthetic) or without sedating or tranquillising the animal,

(c) administration of an anaesthetic agent

the administration of an anaesthetic agent (other than a topical anaesthetic) to an animal otherwise than under the immediate and direct supervision of a veterinary practitioner,

(d) specific procedures

the following treatments, procedures and tests—

(i) the performing of laparoscopic surgery on any animal,

(ii) the performing of the Mules operation on sheep that are 12 months of age or older,

(iii) the tailing of sheep that are 6 months of age or older,

(iv) the de-horning of cattle that are 12 months of age or older,

(v) the de-horning of goats that are 1 month of age or older,

(vi) the removal of immature antlers in velvet from deer,

(vii) the carrying out in respect of an animal of any artificial breeding procedure involving surgery,

(viii) the castrating of cattle, sheep, goats, camels, deer, American bison, water buffalo or blackbuck that are 6 months of age or older,

(ix) the castrating of pigs that are 2 months of age or older,

(x) the castrating at any age of animals other than cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, camels, deer, American bison, water buffalo or blackbuck,