Any material seized in a criminal investigation and deemed to be hazardous to health and safety, may be disposed of upon written application of the Division to the attorney for the Commonwealth in the city or county where the material is seized or where any criminal prosecution in which such material is proposed to be evidence is pending. Upon receipt, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall file the application in the circuit court of such county or city. A sworn analysis report signed by a person designated by the Director of the Division shall accompany the application for disposal and shall clearly identify and designate the material for disposal. The application shall state the nature and quantity of the hazardous materials, the location where seized, the person from whom the materials were seized, and the manner in which the material shall be destroyed. Where the ownership of the hazardous material is known, notice shall be given to the owner at least three days prior to any hearing relating to the destruction, and, if any criminal charge is pending in any court as a result of the seizure, notice shall be given to the accused if other than the owner. Upon receipt of the analysis report and the application, the court may order the destruction of all, or a part of, the material; however, a sufficient and representative quantity of the material shall be retained to permit an independent analysis when a criminal prosecution may result from the seizure. A return under oath, reporting the time, place and manner of destruction shall be made to the courts. Copies of the analysis report, application, order and return shall be made a part of the record of any criminal prosecution. The sworn analysis report shall be admissible as evidence to the same extent as the disposed-of material would have been admissible.
Code 1950, § 32-31.6:1; 1976, c. 576; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-432; 1990, c. 825; 2001, c. 844.