Welfare of Animals and Poultry at Markets Order (Northern Ireland) 1998

Detention and treatment of unfit animals

19.—(1) Where an inspector has reasonable grounds for supposing that any animal or bird in a market is unfit he may move it, or cause it to be moved, to a pen, cage or hutch provided in the market for the accommodation of unfit animals or poultry or to any other suitable place in the market and by notice in writing require the market operator to detain the animal or bird there pending its examination by a veterinary inspector.

(2) Where a veterinary inspector is of the opinion that any animal or bird in a market is unfit, he may treat it, or cause it to be treated, and take, or cause to be taken, any other steps that he considers necessary to protect it from suffering, and he may for any such purpose by notice in writing require the market operator to detain the animal or bird in a pen, cage or hutch at a place mentioned in paragraph (1) for as long as he considers necessary for the purpose of further treatment or otherwise protecting it from suffering.

(3) Where an animal or bird is being detained in pursuance of paragraph (1) or (2) a person shall not move it from its place of detention except under the authority of a licence granted by the Department and in accordance with any conditions subject to which the licence is granted.

(4) A person shall not enter a pen in which any unfit animal or bird is being kept unless authorised to do so by an inspector.

(5) A market operator shall—

(a) render such reasonable assistance to an inspector as he may require for the purpose of facilitating the exercise of his powers under paragraph (1) or (2); and

(b) give to an inspector such information as he possesses as to the ownership of any animal or bird in respect of which any such power is exercised.

(6) In this Article “treatment” includes milking.

(7) This Article shall apply to an animal which is overstocked with milk or likely to give birth as it applies to an unfit animal.