The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2008

PART 3 Authorisation of blood banks

Authorisation of blood banks

20.—(1) The Secretary of State may authorise blood banks for—

(a) the collection, storage and supply of blood, or

(b) the storage and supply of blood constituents obtained by the physical separation of donor blood into different fractions within a closed-bag system,

for the treatment of non-food-producing animals.

(2) The authorisation may be for either or both of these activities.

(3) In order to be authorised a blood bank must be under the supervision of—

(a) a veterinary surgeon named in the authorisation; or

(b) a person named in the authorisation who the Secretary of State is satisfied is suitably qualified to operate the blood bank.

(4) Before authorising a blood bank, the Secretary of State must be satisfied—

(a) that the welfare of animals used in the collection of blood will be respected; and

(b) that the production process will produce a consistent, safe product.

(5) The procedure for the suspension or revocation of the authorisation is the same as for the holder of a manufacturing authorisation.

(6) Blood may only be collected under the responsibility of a veterinary surgeon.

(7) It is an offence to operate a blood bank for treatment of animals other than in accordance with such an authorisation.

Supply and administration of blood from a blood bank

21.—(1) The blood may only be supplied to a veterinary surgeon.

(2) It may only be administered by a veterinary surgeon or under a veterinary surgeon’s responsibility.

(3) It may only be administered to non-food-producing animals.

(4) It is an offence to fail to comply with this paragraph.

Labelling

22.—(1) The operator of a blood bank must ensure that every container used for the blood is labelled with—

(a) the identification of the donor animal;

(b) the date of collection;

(c) the authorisation number of the blood bank;

(d) any necessary warnings;

(e) the expiry date.

(2) There must be no specific therapeutic indication on the label or on any information relating to the product.

(3) It is an offence to fail to comply with this paragraph.

Records

23.—(1) The operator of a blood bank must, as soon as is reasonably practicable, record—

(a) the date of collection;

(b) the identification of the donor animal;

(c) the veterinary surgeon who collected it;

(d) the expiry date;

(e) the date the blood was used or, if it was supplied to another veterinary surgeon, the name of that veterinary surgeon and the date it was supplied,

and must keep the records for at least five years.

(2) It is an offence to fail to comply with this paragraph.

Inspection of blood banks

24.  The Secretary of State must inspect a blood bank every two years.