Animal Health Act 1981

Foot-and-mouth disease E+W+S

3 (1) The Minister may, if he thinks fit, in any case cause to be slaughtered— E+W+S

(a) any animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease, or suspected of being so affected [F1 and];

(b) any animals which are or have been in the same field, shed, or other place, or in the same herd or flock, or otherwise in contact with animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease, or which appear to the Minister to have been in any way exposed to the infection of foot-and-mouth disease.

[F2 (c) any animals the Secretary of State thinks should be slaughtered with a view to preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.]

[F3 (1A) The Secretary of State may exercise the power under sub-paragraph (1)(c) whether or not animals—

(a) are affected with foot-and-mouth disease or suspected of being so affected;

(b) are or have been in contact with animals so affected;

(c) have been exposed to the infection of foot-and-mouth disease;

(d) have been treated with vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease.]

(2) The Minister shall for animals slaughtered under this paragraph pay compensation as follows—

(a) where the animal slaughtered was affected with foot-and-mouth disease the compensation shall be the value of the animal immediately before it became so affected;

(b) in every other case the compensation shall be the value of the animal immediately before it was slaughtered.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word omitted (E.W.) (14.1.2003) by virtue of 2002 c. 42, s. 1(2); S.I. 2002/3044, art. 2

F2 Sch. 3 para. 3(1)(c) inserted (E.W.) (14.1.2003) by 2002 c. 42, s. 1(2)(c); S.I. 2002/3044, art. 2

F3 Sch. 3 para. 3(1A) inserted (E.W.) (14.1.2003) by 2002 c. 42, s. 1(3); S.I. 2002/3044, art. 2