Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of veterinary medicine by the Veterinary Medical Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law authorizes the Veterinary Medical Board to deny, revoke, or suspend a license or registration or assess a fine for a violation of specified acts, including the employment of anyone but a veterinarian licensed in this state to demonstrate the use of biologics in the treatment of animals. A violation of the act is a crime.
Existing law prohibits a person from engaging in the production of animal blood and blood component products, as defined, for retail sale and distribution except in a commercial blood bank for animals licensed by the secretary and requires the
Secretary of Food and Agriculture and requires the secretary to license commercial blood banks for animals that meet specified requirements. Existing law prohibits a person from engaging in the production of biologics except as permitted under federal law. Existing law exempts licensed private veterinarians who collect blood or blood products solely for use in their own practice from these provisions regulating and licensing commercial blood banks for animals and biologics. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law defines animal, for the purposes of these provisions, as any domesticated fowl or nonhuman mammal and any wild fowl, bird, or mammal that is reduced to captivity. A violation of these provisions is a crime.
This bill, beginning on January 1, 2022, would change the definition of “animal,” for the purposes of the provisions related to commercial blood banks for
animals, to exclude dogs and cats.
This bill, beginning on not withstanding any law, commencing January 1, 2022, would authorize a licensed veterinarian to engage in the production of dog and cat prohibit a person from engaging in the production of canine blood and blood component products or biologics if specified conditions are met, including consent, safety, and record keeping requirements. This bill would otherwise prohibit any person from engaging in the production of dog and cat blood and blood component products
or biologics. By for retail sale and distribution unless that person is licensed as a canine blood bank by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, among other specified requirements, including the requirement that the operations are performed under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist. The bill would prohibit a canine blood bank from paying a person for canine blood or blood component products and would require a canine blood bank to keep specified records.
By expanding the scope of an existing crime with regard to violations of the Veterinary Medical Practice Act,
existing crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.