The Zoonoses (Monitoring) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide inspectors with powers of entry to monitor for zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance to zoonotic agents and other agents that pose a threat to public health, as required by Directive 2003/99/EC (on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, amending Council Decision 90/424/EEC and repealing Council Directive 92/117/EEC) (regulation 4).

Regulation 5 sets out what inspectors may do on those premises, including take samples, examine records and make inquiries of any person.

Regulation 6 requires food business operators involved in primary production to preserve isolates that have been tested for a zoonoses and to keep the results of those tests and provide them to the Department on demand.

Regulation 7 requires the Department to consult the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in relation to any programme for the monitoring of zoonosis or zoonotic agents in wild animals that includes sampling of live wild animals, their nests or resting places.

Regulation 8 creates offences for obstructing an inspector and sets out the applicable penalties.

A transposition note and full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the Animal Disease Control and Trade Policy Branch, Room 715, Dundonald House, Stormont Estate, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which has been placed in the Library of the Assembly.