The Products of Animal Origin (Disease Control) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations partially transpose in Northern Ireland Articles 3 and 4 of Council Directive 2002/99/EC laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption (OJ No L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11).

These Articles are also transposed by the Diseases of Poultry Order (Northern Ireland) 1995 (S.R. 1995 No.465), the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Regulations (Northern Ireland) (S.R. 2006 No.42) and the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R.2007 No.68).

Other Articles of the Council Directive and other EC measures supplementing them are transposed by:

(a) The Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations (NI) 2006 (S.R.2006 No.2)

(b) The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R.2007 No.133);

(c) The Animal and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R.2006 No.401);

(d) The Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) (1998 No.45 as amended);

(e) The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R.2007 No.199);and

(f) The Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R.2006 No.3).

These Regulations also transpose, insofar as they apply to Newcastle disease, the Commission Decision 2007/118/EC establishing an alternative health mark pursuant to Directive 2002/99/EC (OJ No. L 51, 20.2.2007, p19)

These Regulations require:

(g) the marking and treatment of meat from animals sent for slaughter from premises in zones declared to control animal diseases;

(h) that such animals are sent only to slaughterhouses designated by the Department;

(i) the occupiers of premises from and to which untreated meat is moved to keep records of such movements.

Regulation 2 defines “disease” as Classical Swine Fever, African Swine Fever, Swine Vesicular Disease, Rinderpest, Peste des Petits Ruminants and Newcastle Disease.

Regulation 5 gives the Department the power to designate premises, slaughterhouses and game handling establishments. Regulation 6 prohibits the movement of restricted animals or restricted poultry for slaughter other than at designated slaughterhouse. Regulation 7 restricts the movement of carcases of restricted animals and birds. Regulation 8 requires that animals and meat subject to disease restrictions are kept separate from other animals, poultry and meat.

Regulation 9 imposes restrictions at slaughterhouses and Regulation 10 imposes restrictions at game handling establishments where diseases are suspected or confirmed.

Regulation 12 relates to the marking of meat from restricted animals and restricted poultry, Regulation 13 to the movement of such meat and regulation 14 to the supply of such meat and meat products.

Regulation 15 requires the occupier of premises from and to which meat subject to disease restrictions is moved to notify the Department and Regulation 16 imposes record keeping requirements relating to the movement of such meat.

Regulations 25 to 27 relate to offences, penalties and enforcement.

Schedule 1 sets out the legislation under which zones and areas are declared in respect of the diseases to which these Regulations relate. Schedule 2 sets out the treatments which must be applied to restricted meat. Schedule 3 sets out the meat marking requirements for restricted meat and restricted poultry.