Animals: blood, blood components, and biologics.

Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of veterinary medicine by the Veterinary Medical Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law authorizes the Veterinary Medical Board to deny, revoke, or suspend a license or registration or assess a fine for a violation of specified acts, including the employment of anyone but a veterinarian licensed in this state to demonstrate the use of biologics in the treatment of animals. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law prohibits a person from engaging in the production of animal blood and blood component products, as defined, for retail sale and distribution except in a commercial blood bank for animals licensed by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture and requires the secretary to license commercial blood banks for animals that meet specified requirements. Existing law exempts licensed private veterinarians who collect blood or blood products solely for use in their own practice from these provisions regulating and licensing commercial blood banks for animals and biologics. Existing law defines animal, for the purposes of these provisions, as any domesticated fowl or nonhuman mammal and any wild fowl, bird, or mammal that is reduced to captivity. A violation of these provisions is a crime. This bill, not withstanding any law, commencing January 1, 2022, would prohibit a person from engaging in the production of canine blood and blood component products or biologics for retail sale and distribution unless that person is licensed as a canine blood bank by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, among other specified requirements, including the requirement that the operations are performed under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist. The bill would prohibit a canine blood bank from paying a person for canine blood or blood component products and would require a canine blood bank to keep specified records. By expanding the scope of existing crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.