The Aquatic Animal Health Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Powers of inspectors in initial designation area

29.—(1) This regulation applies where the Department has made an initial designation.

(2) An inspector may—

(a) remove, slaughter, destroy or dispose of any aquatic animal showing clinical signs of disease in the initial designation area;

(b) cleanse and disinfect any premises in the initial designation area or any thing on those premises liable to transmit disease.

(3) An inspector may, by notice served on the occupier of any premises in the initial designation area, require that person to—

(a) take such measures as are specified in the notice to secure the slaughter, destruction, removal or disposal of any aquatic animal on the premises;

(b) provide and operate a disinfection facility at the entrances and exits of the premises in such manner as may be specified in the notice;

(c) cleanse and disinfect any premises or any thing on those premises liable to transmit disease in such manner as may be specified in the notice;

(d) take such other measures as are specified in the notice as the inspector considers necessary to eradicate the suspected disease or to prevent or limit the spread of the suspected disease to other aquatic animals.

(4) An inspector may, by notice served on any person, prohibit that person from entering any farm or mollusc farming area in the initial designation area.

(5) Where an inspector considers that any requirement imposed by a notice under paragraph (3) has not been complied with, the inspector may, without prejudice to any proceedings under paragraph (6),—

(a) enter any premises in the initial designation area to which the notice relates;

(b) take, or cause to be taken, such steps as the inspector considers necessary to—

(i) ensure compliance with the requirement; or

(ii) remedy the consequences of the failure to comply with the requirement; and

(c) recover any expenses reasonably incurred in so doing from the person who has failed to comply with the requirement.

(6) It is an offence for a person to fail to comply with any requirement or prohibition imposed under paragraph (3) or (4).