Singapore legislation

Section 53

of Biological Agents and Toxins Act 2005

Section 53

Power to make orders for cessation of activity on facilities, etc.

(1)

Where the Director has reason to suspect that any storage of or activity involving any biological agent, inactivated biological agent or toxin at or carried out on any facility —

(a)

has or is suspected to have given rise, or is likely to give rise, to an adverse incident;

(b)

poses an imminent threat to public health;

(c)

is a threat to national security; or

(d)

is contrary to the public interest,the Director may order any one or more of the following:

(e)

the immediate cessation of any activity involving any biological agent or toxin at the facility;

(f)

the destruction of any biological agent or toxin at the facility;

(g)

the decontamination of the facility;

(h)

the closure or cordoning off of the facility until such time as the Director is satisfied that the facility may safely resume operation;

(i)

that any person who is or was at the facility (whether as a member of the staff of the facility or otherwise) and who may be or may have been exposed to any biological agent or toxin at the facility should —

(i)

undergo such medical examination and medical treatment at such place or hospital as the Director may specify in the order; or

(ii)

be quarantined at such place and for such period as the Director may specify in the order.

(2)

Any person who contravenes any order made by the Director under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both.

(3)

Subsection (1) is in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other provision in this Act empowering the Director to make any similar order referred to in paragraphs (e) to (i) of that subsection.

(4)

Where an order is made under this Act by the Director —

(a)

for the cessation of any activity at any facility;

(b)

for the destruction of any biological agent, inactivated biological agent or toxin;

(c)

for the decontamination of any facility;

(d)

for the closure or cordoning off of any facility; or

(e)

that any person who may be or may have been exposed to any biological agent or toxin at the facility should undergo any medical examination or medical treatment or be quarantined,the Director or an enforcement officer may take such measures as may be reasonable and necessary to ensure that the order is properly carried out, including any remedial or precautionary measure as may be necessary for ensuring the safety of persons carrying out the order or who are present at the facility when the order is being carried out.

(5)

Where any order has been made by the Director under this Act for —

(a)

the cessation of any activity involving any biological agent, inactivated biological agent or toxin;

(b)

the destruction of any biological agent, inactivated biological agent or toxin; or

(c)

the closure or cordoning off of any facility at which there is any biological agent, inactivated biological agent or toxin,the Director or an enforcement officer may seize any biological agent, inactivated biological agent or toxin to which the order relates, and any other material arising out of any activity carried out involving the biological agent, inactivated biological agent or toxin.

Read in full context — Biological Agents and Toxins Act 2005 →