The Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Quarantine for captive birds

17.—(1) The provisions of Part I of Schedule 7 have effect in relation to approvals for quarantine centres and quarantine facilities pursuant to Commission Decision 2000/666/EC.

(2) The quarantine manager shall ensure that the specific requirements for the quarantine of captive birds described in Part III of Schedule 7 are met.

(3) The importer of a captive bird shall meet the costs of sampling undertaken during the captive bird’s quarantine and shall pay the charges of the official laboratory for testing and analysis of samples (including the post mortem removal of tissue for testing) required under Articles 4(1), (3), (4) and (5) or undertaken in connection with reaching a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of Chlamydia psittaci referred to in Article 5 of Commission Decision 2000/666/EC as that laboratory may demand in writing in accordance with paragraphs (4) and, as the case may be, (5) of this regulation.

(4) For the purposes of testing and analysis of samples described in paragraph (3), the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute is designated the official laboratory and may make a charge for carrying out such testing and analysis.

(5) A demand for payment of charges made by the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute under this regulation may be addressed to the importer concerned at his last known address, whether or not it is his address for business.

(6) A person may not enter a quarantine centre or a quarantine facility unless—

(a) he wears protective clothing and footwear; and

(b) he meets at least one of the following criteria—

(i) he is a member of staff at that quarantine centre or quarantine facility;

(ii) he has been authorised so to enter by the Department or by a veterinary inspector; or

(iii) he otherwise does so in fulfilment of a statutory function relating to animal health, animal welfare or species conservation which he is appointed by the Department to perform.

(7) A person shall not remove a live captive bird from a quarantine centre or quarantine facility unless an inspector has authorised the removal.

(8) A person shall not remove or dispose of a carcase of a captive bird which dies in quarantine unless an inspector has authorised the removal or disposal.

(9) In so far as not provided for under regulation 29, an inspector in the case of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b), and a veterinary inspector in the case of sub-paragraph (c) shall have powers in relation to the quarantine of captive birds to—

(a) enter a quarantine centre or quarantine facility to check compliance with these Regulations or with an approval granted under this regulation and Schedule 7, or to assess whether it is appropriate to grant such an approval;

(b) inspect and arrange for copies of any documents or records (including those in electronic form) which he reasonably considers relevant for checking compliance as described in sub-paragraph (a); and

(c) take such samples and carry out such inspections of a quarantine centre or quarantine facility and its equipment, and such clinical veterinary examinations, as are required under Commission Decision 2000/666/EC.

(10) An inspector exercising powers under paragraph (9) shall produce, if required to do so, some duly authenticated document showing his authority to exercise those powers.

(11) “Quarantine manager” means the person in charge of a quarantine centre or quarantine facility for which approval is required under the Decision.