Power to slaughter
15.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Department shall slaughter or cause to be slaughtered any reactor and may slaughter or cause to be slaughtered any suspected animal or other animal which is or has been in contact with a reactor or which in the opinion of a veterinary inspector has been in any way exposed to a significant risk of infection with disease.
(2) Where the Department is satisfied that an animal should be slaughtered in accordance with paragraph (1), it shall serve a notice on the keeper of the animal stating that the Department proposes to slaughter the animal and requiring the keeper, pending such slaughter, to detain the animal on the premises specified in the notice and isolate it from other animals and to comply with such other requirements as may be specified in the notice.
(3) Where the Department considers that any animal in respect of which a notice has been served under paragraph (2) ought not to be slaughtered it shall serve a notice on the keeper of the animal stating that fact and revoking the notice under that paragraph.
(4) The keeper of an animal in respect of which there is a notice under paragraph (2) in force shall comply with the requirements of that notice and shall –
(a)not move or cause or permit to be moved such animal from the premises specified in the notice, except under and in accordance with the conditions of a licence issued by the Department;
(b)maintain, at his own expense, such animal until it is removed for slaughter by or on behalf of the Department;
(c)provide facilities that in the opinion of the Department are adequate to ensure the safety of any person involved in determining the market value of the animal or arranging its removal for slaughter;
(d)collect, pen, restrain or otherwise secure and present the animal, in such manner and at such time as the Department shall require, for the purpose of determining its market value or arranging its removal for slaughter; and
(e)make clean water available for the cleansing and disinfection of clothing and equipment used by any person in connection with the determination of the market value of the animal.