Animals and Birds (Veterinary Centres) Rules

Animals and Birds Act

(CHAPTER 7, Section 80)

R 9

G.N. No. S 478/2002

REVISED EDITION 2004

(29th February 2004)

[15th September 2002]

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Animals and Birds (Veterinary Centres) Rules.

Definitions

2. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —

“licence” means a licence issued by the Director-General under section 54 of the Act authorising the licensee to use or permit any premises to be used as a veterinary centre;

“licensee” means a person who holds a valid licence.

Person to whom licence may be issued

3.—(1) The Director-General shall not issue a licence to any person unless that person is carrying on business in Singapore and is —

(a)	registered under the Business Registration Act (Cap. 32); or
(b)	incorporated or registered under the Companies Act (Cap. 50).

(2) The Director-General may refuse to issue a licence to an applicant if —

(a)

the applicant or one of his partners or, if the applicant is a body corporate, one of its directors —

(i)	had previously been convicted of an offence under the Act; or
(ii)	had previously held a licence issued under section 54 or 53 of the Act and the licence was subsequently suspended or revoked under section 62 of the Act; or

(b)

in the opinion of the Director-General, the premises in respect of which the licence is being applied for are not suitable for use as a veterinary centre.

Application for and issue of licence

4.—(1) An application for a licence shall be made to the Director-General in such form or manner as the Director-General may require and shall be accompanied by —

(a)	the appropriate fee as specified in the Schedule; and
(b)	such particulars, information and documents as may be specified by the Director-General.

(2) On receipt of an application under paragraph (1), the Director-General may —

(a)	issue a licence to the applicant, whether unconditionally or subject to such conditions as he thinks fit to impose; or
(b)	refuse to issue any licence to the applicant.

(3) In determining whether to issue or refuse to issue a licence, the Director-General may consider —

(a)	the character and fitness of the applicant to be issued with a licence or, where the applicant is a body corporate, the character and fitness of the members of the board of directors or committee or board of trustees or other governing body of the body corporate;
(b)	the ability of the applicant to operate and maintain a veterinary centre in accordance with the requisite conditions and standards; and
(c)	the suitability of the premises (including the facilities and equipment therein) to be licensed for use as a veterinary centre.

(4) For the purpose of paragraph (3), the Director-General may —

(a)	inspect the premises in respect of which the application is made, or cause such premises to be inspected by an authorised officer; and
(b)	require the applicant at his own expense to make such alteration or improvement to the premises or provide, fix or install such facilities and equipment therein, as the Director-General may specify.

(5) The Director-General may, at any time, vary or revoke any of the existing conditions imposed under paragraph (2)(a) or impose new conditions.

(6) Every licence issued under this rule —

(a)	shall be in such form as the Director-General may determine;
(b)	shall be valid for the period stated therein unless it is sooner revoked under section 62 of the Act; and
(c)	may be renewed upon its expiry.

(7) Where the Director-General refuses to issue a licence under paragraph (2)(b), he shall, if requested to do so by the applicant, state in writing the reasons for his refusal.

(8) Paragraphs (1) to (7) shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to an application for the renewal of a licence.

Management of licensed veterinary centre

5.—(1) Every licensee —

(a)	shall ensure that the veterinary centre to which his licence relates is at all times under the control and management of a veterinary surgeon who is licensed by the Director-General under section 53 of the Act to treat, vaccinate or inoculate animals or birds; and
(b)	shall not cause or require any veterinary surgeon under his employment to do any act that is contrary to the code of professional ethics for veterinary surgeons issued by the Board. [S 212/2019 wef 01/04/2019]

(2) Every licensee shall, within such time and in such manner as the Director-General may require —

(a)	furnish the Director-General with such particulars of the veterinary surgeon who is appointed by the licensee to control and manage the veterinary centre; and
(b)	inform the Director-General of any change in such appointment.

Transfer of licence

6. No licensee shall transfer or assign the benefit of his licence to any other person.

Maintenance of licensed veterinary centre

7. A licensee shall ensure that the veterinary centre to which his licence relates is equipped, maintained and managed in accordance with the conditions of the licence.

Facilities for isolation and confinement of diseased animals, etc.

8. Every licensee shall ensure that the veterinary centre to which his licence relates is equipped with adequate facilities for the isolation and confinement of any animal, bird, carcass or specimen that is or is reasonably suspected to be infected with any disease as specified in the Animals and Birds (Disease) Notification (N 2).

Prohibition on use of certain descriptions for unlicensed premises

9. No person shall use any of the following expressions to describe his business or any premises owned or occupied by him unless he has been issued with a licence under these Rules authorising him to use those premises as a veterinary centre:

(a)	“veterinary centre”;
(b)	“veterinary hospital”;
(c)	“veterinary clinic”;
(d)	“veterinary surgery”;
(e)	“veterinary laboratory”;
(f)	“animal nursing centre”;
(g)	“animal healthcare centre”; or
(h)	any other expression that implies that the premises are being used for purposes similar to those of a veterinary centre.

Power of Director-General to issue directives

10.—(1) The Director-General may, from time to time, issue to licensees such written directives as he may think necessary for the proper management and operation of licensed veterinary centres.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the Director-General may issue directives with respect to the following matters:

(a)	the cleanliness and hygiene in a veterinary centre;
(b)	the qualifications and skills required of persons employed in a veterinary centre;
(c)	the provision of diagnostic, prophylactic, medical and surgical services in a veterinary centre;
(d)	the facilities, apparatuses, appliances and equipment to be provided and maintained in a veterinary centre;
(e)	the standards of patient accommodation, sanitation and other amenities in a veterinary centre;
(f)	the provision of emergency and special care services in a veterinary centre;
(g)	the care and welfare of animals and birds in a veterinary centre;
(h)	the control and notification of infectious diseases;
(i)	the records, reports, forms and registers to be kept in a veterinary centre;
(j)	the accuracy and calibration of equipment in a veterinary centre; and
(k)	the adoption of quality assurance programmes in a veterinary centre.

Offences and penalty

11. Any person or licensee who contravenes rule 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 or who fails to comply with any direction issued by the Director-General under rule 10 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

[G.N. No. S 478/2002]

Search within Legislation