Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations amend the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002, (“the principal Regulations”). Part III of the principal Regulations makes provision in relation to animal feeding, continuing the implementation of Council Decision 2000/766/EC (O.J. No. L306, 7.12.2000, p. 32) concerning certain protection measures with regard to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) and the feeding of animal protein, and Commission Decision 2001/9/EC (O.J. No. L2, 5.1.2001, p. 32) concerning control measures required for the implementation of Council Decision 2000/766/EC.

The amendments provide for further measures where any TSE susceptible animal has been fed mammalian meat and bone meal or mammalian protein in breach of the principal Regulations or has had access to mammalian meat and bone meal or mammalian protein which is prohibited to be fed to it under those Regulations. In particular

• an inspector shall by notice restrict or prohibit movement of the animal (regulation 29A);

• an inspector may serve a notice requiring the slaughter and disposal of the animal (regulation 29B);

• where an animal is slaughtered the Department may pay compensation to the owner (regulation 29C);

• an inspector may also direct the retention or seize or dispose of any carcase or part of a carcase or blood derived from any carcase or part (regulation 29D) and may pay compensation (regulation 29E);

• it is an offence to slaughter, sell, supply for sale or allow to be sold for human consumption any TSE susceptible animal or the meat of such animal which he knows or has reason to suspect has been fed mammalian meat and bone meal or mammalian protein in breach of the principal Regulations or has had access to mammalian meat and bone meal or mammalian protein which is prohibited to be fed to it under these Regulations (regulation 29F).