108.—(1) For the purpose of—

(a) promoting and protecting the health, safety and welfare of animals,

(b) protecting the safety of owners and carers of animals and registered persons engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine or veterinary nursing and the public, and

(c) maintaining proper standards as regards veterinary premises in the State,

the Council shall make regulations relating to veterinary premises.

(2) The power under subsection (1) shall be first exercised not later than 1 year after the establishment day.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regulations under that subsection shall include the following as respects a veterinary premises or class of veterinary premises:

(a) classification into such classes as general premises, large animal clinics, small animal clinics, veterinary hospitals and any other class or classes that in the opinion of the Council, should be included;

(b) availability of equipment and resources at any specified class of veterinary premises such as facilities for clients, examinations, treatment, confinement, isolation, food storage and preparation, anaesthesia, radiology, pharmacy, laboratory needs, surgery, necropsy, nursing care, records and record management, bio security and any other facilities that in the opinion of the Council, should be included;

(c) type and content of any notice to the public that may or shall be placed there;

(d) suitability for the practice of certain specified aspects of veterinary medicine.

(4) For the purposes of this section “class of veterinary premises” means a class of veterinary premises, having regard to the type of veterinary practice practised at such premises and the size and location of, and facilities at, such premises.