33Restrictions on provision of veterinary services by veterinary services entities

33 Restrictions on provision of veterinary services by veterinary services entities

(1)  [Section 33 Subsection (1) amended by No. 14 of 2002, s. 13, Applied:01 Sep 2002] A veterinary services company shall not provide a veterinary service for a person or cause or permit a veterinary service to be so provided unless the provision of that service is performed on its behalf by a registered veterinary surgeon.

(2)  A veterinary services company which contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 50 penalty units.

(3)  [Section 33 Subsection (3) inserted by No. 49 of 2011, s. 28, Applied:12 Dec 2012] If a person –

(a) who is not a registered veterinary surgeon; and

(b) who is acting in the ordinary course of the business of a veterinary services partnership –

provides a veterinary service for a person, each partner in the partnership who is a partner who caused or permitted the service to be provided by the person is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 50 penalty units.

(4)  [Section 33 Subsection (4) inserted by No. 49 of 2011, s. 28, Applied:12 Dec 2012] It is a defence to a charge under subsection (3) against a partner if it is proved that the person who provided the veterinary service provided the service without the knowledge or consent of the partner.