All veterinary work concerning the control of communicable diseases in, and the examination of, domestic animals, except poultry, which is carried out under state or federal supervision in accordance with the provisions of the general statutes, shall be performed by an approved veterinarian who has been accredited by the Animal Health Division of the United States Department of Agriculture and licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state and who is included on a list approved for such purpose by the Commissioner of Agriculture, whom the owner of such animals may designate. If such owner fails to express a preference or the work is not done within sixty days, such veterinary work may be performed by a veterinarian designated by the Commissioner of Agriculture, who shall be a licensed accredited veterinarian, a veterinarian employed by the Department of Agriculture or a veterinarian employed by the United States Department of Agriculture. The commissioner shall, by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, establish fees for the performance of such veterinary work. Nothing in this section shall be construed as interfering with the supervision and control of such work by the commissioner or with the performance, supervision or control of such work by the Animal Health Division of the United States Department of Agriculture, or with research work conducted by any state or federal agency.

(1949 Rev., S. 3321; 1959, P.A. 637, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 67; 1969, P.A. 68; 1971, P.A. 24; 872, S. 446, 448; P.A. 79-199, S. 1, 2; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e), (f); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)

History: 1959 act replaced commissioner of agriculture with commissioner of agriculture, conservation and natural resources; 1961 act replaced commissioner of agriculture, conservation and natural resources with commissioner of agriculture and natural resources; 1969 act substituted “animal health division of the United States department of agriculture” for “United States bureau of animal industry” and required that veterinarians performing work under provisions of section be licensed to practice in state and be on commissioner's approved list and required commissioner to select veterinarian if work not done within 60 days; 1971 acts required veterinarian selected by commissioner to be licensed or employed by department or employed by United States Department of Agriculture and replaced commissioner of agriculture and natural resources with commissioner and department of agriculture; P.A. 79-199 gave commissioner power to establish fees for work performed by regulation; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner and Department of Agriculture with Commissioner and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.