STATUTORY RULES.
1917. No. 284.
REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1916.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the undermentioned amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this 31st day of October, One thousand nine hundred and seventeen.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
WILLIAM WEBSTER,
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348, as amended by Statutory Rules 1914, No. 123.)
Regulation 46 is repealed, and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead :—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 registered 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.14020.—Price 3d.
(c) The packet must on no account be dropped into a letterbox, or be 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.
(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 Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916 sought to regulate the use of postal services for the transmission of bacteriological and pathological specimens, addressing the need for stringent safety and procedural guidelines to ensure the integrity and security of these sensitive materials. This Act, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, aimed to provide a clear framework for laboratories to register and for the proper handling and transmission of specimens through the postal system. The policy objective was to prevent potential hazards and ensure compliance with safety standards, thereby facilitating the efficient and secure exchange of important scientific materials. The legislative instrument, Statutory Rules 1917, No. 284, further refined these regulations by introducing specific requirements for the packaging and transmission of specimens, as well as penalties for non-compliance.
Scope and Application
The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916 pertains to the specific procedures and conditions for the registration of laboratories and the transmission of bacteriological or pathological specimens through the postal service. This legislation applies to any individual or entity wishing to send such specimens for examination, as well as to laboratories seeking to be registered by the Postmaster-General for the receipt of these specimens. The geographic scope of this Act is national, as it is enacted under the Commonwealth jurisdiction and applies across all states and territories within Australia. Laboratories must apply for registration on a prescribed form, available from the Deputy Postmaster-General of a state, and specimens must be sent in a manner that ensures the containment and integrity of the samples during transit, including the use of hermetically sealed receptacles within strong cases. Any deviation from these stipulated conditions renders the sender liable to penalties and the specimens ineligible for postal transmission or delivery. The Regulation further specifies that specimens must be sent by registered packet post and not through parcel post or letterboxes, thereby establishing clear and stringent guidelines to maintain the safety and compliance of postal services in handling potentially hazardous materials.
Key Provisions
The amended Regulation 46 under the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 requires laboratories seeking registration to submit an application to the Postmaster-General on a prescribed form, with copies available from the Deputy Postmaster-General of a state (Regulation 46(1)). For the transmission of bacteriological or pathological specimens, these must be addressed to a registered laboratory and sent via registered packet post under specific conditions (Regulation 46(2)). The outside of the packet must indicate that it contains a specimen for bacteriological or pathological examination (Regulation 46(2)(a)). The specimen must be enclosed in a hermetically sealed receptacle, placed within a sturdy wooden or metal case, and secured with absorbent material to prevent leakage (Regulation 46(2)(b)). The packet must not be sent via parcel post or dropped into a letterbox (Regulation 46(2)(c)). Any deviation from these conditions results in the packet being considered as posted in contravention of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, with appropriate action taken (Regulation 46(2)(c)).
The obligations imposed by the amended Regulation include the requirement for laboratories to apply for and obtain registration from the Postmaster-General if they wish to receive bacteriological or pathological specimens via registered packet post (Regulation 46(1)). Registered laboratories must adhere strictly to the packaging and transmission conditions specified for the specimens, ensuring they are securely enclosed and clearly marked (Regulation 46(2)). Laboratories must also ensure that any specimen sent to them meets the regulatory requirements, and any non-compliant specimens must not be accepted for transmission or delivered (Regulation 46(4)).
Individuals or entities sending bacteriological or pathological specimens by post must ensure compliance with the specified regulations to avoid penalties. Any person found to be sending specimens that do not meet the prescribed conditions, such as not using a registered laboratory or not following the packaging requirements, is liable to a penalty not exceeding Fifty pounds (Regulation 46(3)). Additionally, any packet containing such specimens found not to be packed as directed will be treated as posted in contravention of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, with the potential for further enforcement action (Regulation 46(2)(c)).