Contingency planning for power and equipment failures
26.—(1) The Department may exempt a market, slaughterhouse or collection centre operator from the requirement to record the unique number of each animal on a movement document or on a holding register where a contingency plan has been agreed between the Department and the operator in question which in the opinion of the Department is adequate to ensure reasonable steps are taken to make a record of the identity of the animals.
(2) The Department may withdraw any such exemption if it is no longer satisfied with the operation or terms of the contingency plan.
(3) A contingency plan agreed under paragraph (1) must set out the conditions which must be met by the market or slaughterhouse operator and the circumstances in which, provided those conditions are met, the exemptions in paragraph (1) will apply.
(4) A market or slaughterhouse operator must apply for an exemption under paragraph (1) as soon as possible on every occasion when they wish to apply the exemptions and must cease to accept animals without recording the information referred to in paragraph (1) if the exemption is refused.