Anthrax (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2000 No. 224

ANIMALS

Anthrax (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000

Made

6th July 2000

Coming into operation

22nd August 2000

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development(1), in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 5(1), 10(6), 12(1), 14, 19, 20, 44 and 60(1) of the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(2) and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following Order:

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Anthrax (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000 and shall come into operation on 22nd August 2000.

Amendment of the Anthrax Order (Northern Ireland) 1969

2.  The Anthrax Order (Northern Ireland) 1969(3) shall be amended as provided in Articles 3 to 5.

Interpretation

3.  In Article 3 for the definition of “Approved disinfectant” there shall be substituted the following definition—

““Approved disinfectant” means a disinfectant approved by the Department under the Diseases of Animals (Approval of Disinfectants) Order (Northern Ireland) 1972(4) for use in respect of general orders or any other means of destroying anthrax bacilli or spores as may be specified by the Department.”.

Veterinary inquiry as to existence of disease

4.  For Article 5 there shall be substituted the following Article—

“Veterinary inquiry as to existence of disease

5.—(1) If a veterinary inspector, on reasonable grounds, suspects that disease exists or has within fifty-six days existed on any premises he shall, with all practicable speed, inquire as to the correctness of that suspicion.

(2) For the purposes of such an inquiry a veterinary inspector may—

(a)examine any animal or carcase on any premises;

(b)take or cause to be taken from any such animal or carcase any sample he may require for the purposes of diagnosis;

(c)mark or cause to be marked any such animal or carcase for identification purposes;

(d)examine any records relating to origin, destination, health and productivity of any animal which is, or has been, on the premises, and take copies of such records, and

(e)investigate the origins of feedingstuffs and fertilisers.

(3) The occupier of the premises, any person in his employment, any veterinary surgeon who has been attending or who has been consulted in respect of any animal or carcase on the premises and any person who is or has been in charge of or in contact with any such animal or carcase, shall provide such information and facilities and render such assistance as may be required for the purposes of the inquiry.”.

Cleansing and disinfection

5.  In Article 9 the following paragraphs shall be inserted after paragraph (3)—

“(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, the Department may serve on any person a notice in writing requiring him to arrange for the incineration or other means of disposal of anything which has been in contact with an animal or carcase affected or suspected of being affected with disease.

(5) Where a notice is served on any person under paragraph (4) he shall comply with the requirements thereof.”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on 6th July 2000.

R. Jordan

A senior officer of the

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

This Order amends the Anthrax Order (Northern Ireland) 1969, by—

(a)inserting a new definition of “approved disinfectant”;

(b)extending the action which a veterinary inspector may take in carrying out a veterinary inquiry where he suspects that anthrax exists or has existed; and

(c)enabling the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to require, by notice, the incineration or other means of disposal of anything which has been in contact with an animal or carcase affected or suspected of being affected with anthrax.

(1)

Formerly the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland: see S.I. 1999/283 (N.I. 1) Art. 3(4)

(2)

S.I. 1981/1115 (N.I. 22) as amended by S.I. 1984/702 (N.I. 2) Art. 17 and S.I. 1994/1891 (N.I. 6) Arts. 20, 22 and 23