The Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Circuses and Avian Quarantine) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend The Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006 No. 401) (“the principal Regulations”).

They apply and enforce Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1739/2005 laying down animal health requirements for the movement of circus animals between member States (O.J. No. L279, 22.10.2005, p. 47). Regulation 5 of the principal Regulations is amended to make provision for the Department’s designation as competent authority for the purpose of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1739/2005, and for fees to be charged for expenses incurred in registering circuses and animal acts as required under that Commission Regulation (regulation 4). The Commission Regulation is added to the list of instruments imposing conditions on the movement of animals within the Community in Part I of Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations (regulation 11).

These Regulations also apply and enforce Commission Regulation (EC) No. 318/2007 laying down animal health conditions for imports of certain birds into the Community and the quarantine conditions thereof (O.J. No. L84, 24.3.2007, p. 7). Regulation 15(6) of the principal Regulations is amended so that it prohibits the import of captive birds unless they are from an approved breeding establishment within the meaning of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 318/2007 (regulation 6). Regulation 17 of the principal Regulations (“quarantine of captive birds”) is revised to reflect the new requirements for quarantine and to create offences accordingly (regulation 8). Measures to deal with the presence or the suspicion of avian influenza, Newcastle disease, and Chlamydophyla psittaci are provided for by amendment to regulation 19 of the principal Regulations (regulation 9). The import conditions in relation to captive birds set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 318/2007 are applied by introduction of additional paragraphs in Parts I and II of Schedule 6 (regulation 12). Schedule 7 is replaced with new provisions relating to approvals of quarantine centres and facilities, and approval fees (regulation 13).

Regulatory impact assessments have been produced in relation to the arrangements for approvals and charges introduced for avian quarantine and to the movement of circus animals. Copies are available by post from the Trade Section, Animal Health and Welfare Policy Division, Room 732, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB or can be downloaded via the DARD website, www.dardni.gov.uk