STATUTORY RULES
1920. No. 181.
REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this seventh day of October, 1920.
FORSTER,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
GEO. H. WISE,
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Post and Telegraph Regulations, 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348, as amended to this date.)
Regulation 46 is repealed and the following regulation is inserted in its stead:—
46. (1) Applications for registration by the Postmaster-General of laboratories to which bacteriological or pathological specimens may be sent for examination must be made on the prescribed form, copies of which may be obtained from the Deputy Postmaster-General of a State.
(2) Bacteriological or pathological specimens addressed to laboratories registered by the Postmaster-General may be accepted for transmission by packet post, under the following conditions, viz.:—
(a) On the outside of every such packet there must be written or printed the words “Specimen for Bacteriological or Pathological Examination.”
(b) The liquid or substance forwarded for examination must be enclosed in a receptacle hermetically sealed, which receptacle must itself be placed in a strong wooden or metal case, in such a way that it cannot shift about, and with a sufficient quantity of some absorbent material (such as sawdust or cotton wool) so packed about the receptacle as absolutely to prevent any possible leakage from the packet in the event of damage to the receptacle.
(c) Except as provided in sub-paragraph (d) the packet must be registered and not dropped into a letter-box nor sent by parcel post. Any packet of the kind found in the parcel post, or any packet of the kind, whether registered or not, found in the post, not packed as directed, shall be deemed to be posted in contravention of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, and dealt with accordingly.
(d) In eases where specimens (throat swabs) arc not obtained in time to permit the sender to pack them and hand the packot in at a post office for registration, on account of the post office having closed for the day, such, specimens may be transmitted by ordinary pest, provided they are properly packed in accordance with this Regulation, and the packet bears an indorsement by the sender that the specimen enclosed was obtained too late to permit the sender to hand the packet in at a post office for registration.
(3) Any person who sends by post bacteriological or pathological specimens, otherwise than as provided by these Regulations, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding Fifty pounds.
(4) A packet containing any bacteriological or pathological specimens shall not be accepted for transmission, or, if found in the post, shall not be delivered unless addressed to a laboratory which has been registered by the Postmaster-General in accordance with this Regulation.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1920 No. 181, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, was introduced to regulate the transmission of bacteriological or pathological specimens through the postal system. This regulation was enacted by the Governor-General in Council, with the intent to ensure the safe and appropriate handling of these sensitive materials. The primary objective of the regulation was to provide specific guidelines for the registration of laboratories and the packaging and transmission of specimens to prevent any potential harm or contamination during transit. By establishing these stringent requirements, the regulation aimed to facilitate the secure and efficient delivery of specimens for medical examination purposes while maintaining public safety.
Scope and Application
The regulation issued under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916 pertains to the transportation of bacteriological and pathological specimens via the postal service. The regulation applies to any person or entity sending such specimens through the postal system. This includes individuals, medical professionals, and laboratories, and applies to the conduct of sending these specimens through the postal system. The regulation has a national reach, as it is issued under the Commonwealth Act. The regulation specifies conditions under which such specimens may be sent, including requirements for packaging and registration. It also sets out penalties for non-compliance with the specified conditions. The regulation does not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions, but it does indicate that any deviation from the specified conditions results in non-acceptance or non-delivery of the specimens and potential penalties. The regulation can be further extended or modified through subordinate instruments under the Post and Telegraph Act.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this regulation (Regulation 46) concern the requirements for laboratories seeking to register for the transmission of bacteriological or pathological specimens via the postal service. Section (1) specifies that applications for registration must be made on a prescribed form, which can be obtained from the Deputy Postmaster-General of a State. Section (2) outlines the conditions under which such specimens can be sent by packet post, including the requirement that the outside of the packet must be clearly marked as "Specimen for Bacteriological or Pathological Examination", that the specimen must be enclosed in a hermetically sealed receptacle, which itself must be placed in a strong wooden or metal case with sufficient absorbent material to prevent leakage in case of damage. Furthermore, section (2) states that the packet must be registered and not sent via parcel post unless under specific circumstances (subsection (d)). Section (3) imposes a penalty on individuals who fail to comply with these regulations, with a maximum penalty of fifty pounds. Lastly, section (4) stipulates that a packet containing any bacteriological or pathological specimens will not be accepted for transmission unless addressed to a laboratory registered by the Postmaster-General.
The obligations imposed by this regulation are primarily on laboratories seeking to register for the transmission of such specimens, requiring them to adhere to the prescribed application process and the specific packing and marking requirements for the specimens. Additionally, it mandates that the Postmaster-General must register laboratories before they can legally send or receive bacteriological or pathological specimens via the postal service. On the other hand, it places a responsibility on senders to ensure that their specimens comply with the regulations to avoid penalties.
In terms of consequences for breach, section (3) explicitly states that any person who sends bacteriological or pathological specimens by post in a manner that does not comply with these regulations is liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds. This financial penalty serves as a deterrent against non-compliance and ensures that the safety and integrity of the postal service are maintained. Additionally, section (4) indicates that any packet not addressed to a registered laboratory will not be accepted for transmission or delivered, reinforcing the importance of adhering to the registration and packaging requirements.