Citation, extent and commencement

1.  This order, which may be cited as the Rabies (Compensation) Order 1976, shall apply throughout Great Britain, and shall come into operation on 27th January 1977.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this order, unless the context otherwise requires—

“the Act” means the Diseases of Animals Act 1950, as amended or extended by any subsequent enactment;

“animal” has the same meaning as in the Rabies (Control) Order 1974(1);

“the Minister” means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

(2) The Interpretation Act 1889 applies for the interpretation of this order as it applies for the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

Compensation for animals slaughtered on account of Rabies

3.  Where the Minister causes an animal to be slaughtered under the powers conferred on him by section 17 of the Act as applied to rabies by the Rabies (Control) Order 1974, he shall pay compensation in respect of that animal as follows:—

(a)where the animal was affected with rabies at the time of its slaughter, the compensation shall be 50 per cent of the market value of the animal immediately before it became so affected; and

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under the Rabies (Control) Order 1974, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is given power to slaughter any animal to which that order applies which is affected with or suspected of being affected with rabies, or which has been exposed to the infection of that disease. The present Order fixes the amount of compensation payable in respect of a slaughtered animal, and provides that, in the case of an animal affected with rabies at the time of its slaughter, compensation shall be payable at the rate of 50 per cent of the market value of the animal immediately before it contracted the disease. In all other cases, the compensation will consist of the full market value of the animal immediately before slaughter.