Reportable and Notifiable Disease Regulation (B.C. Reg. 7/2015).

The present Regulation is made under the Animal Health Act. In particular, the Regulation expands the scope of provincial authority for disease control from 16 diseases to over 120. This Regulation also brings the afore-mentioned Animal Health Act into force. The diseases listed in this Regulation align with similar lists prescribed by other provincial governments and the government of Canada. For the purpose of the present Regulation "reportable disease" means an environmental toxin, infestation, syndrome or transmissible disease that is prescribed as a reportable disease for the purpose of implementing preventive, control or eradication measures: a) to safeguard animal health; b) to safeguard public health in relation to environmental toxins, infestations, syndromes or transmissible diseases that are or may be transmissible from animals to humans; c) to avoid barriers to trade, or d) for other reasons in the public interest "notifiable disease" means an environmental toxin, infestation, syndrome or transmissible disease that is prescribed as a notifiable disease for the purpose of implementing monitoring measures: a) to determine its presence, identity, nature, effects or spread; b) to avoid barriers to trade, or c) for other reasons in the public interest reportable diseases include transmissible diseases, environmental toxins, infestations and syndromes. Some reportable diseases are zoonotic meaning they can be transmitted to humans. The Regulation also requires that a person who has reasonable grounds to suspect that a reportable or notifiable disease has occurred must make a report within 24 hours to the office of the Chief Veterinarian. Procedures and information requirements for making such a report are prescribed in the Regulation, including requirements for retaining samples and records. The text consists of 4 sections as follows: Definition (1); Prescribed diseases (2); Records and samples (3); Making reports (4). Two Schedules are enclosed.