Notification of disease in horses4

1

Subject to paragraph (2) below, a person who knows or has reasonable grounds for supposing that a stallion—

a

which is in his possession or under his charge, or

b

which he has examined or inspected,

is or may be diseased, or is or may be a carrier of the virus, shall with all practicable speed notify the fact to the Divisional Veterinary Officer.

2

Paragraph (1) above shall not apply in respect of a stallion which has been vaccinated against the disease and which, immediately prior to vaccination, has been tested for the disease with a negative result.

3

A person who knows or has reasonable grounds for supposing that a mare which has been served, either naturally or by artificial insemination, within the previous fourteen days—

a

which is in his possession or under his charge, or

b

which he has examined or inspected,

is or may be diseased, shall with all practicable speed—

i

notify the fact to the Divisional Veterinary Officer; and

ii

notify to the Divisional Veterinary Officer the name of the stallion used to serve the mare and the name and address of the owner of the stallion.

4

A person who, following analysis by him of a sample of serum or semen taken from a stallion or a sample of serum taken from a mare which has been served, either narurally or by artificial insemination within the previus fourteen days, reasonably supposes that the disease exists or the stallion may be a carrier of the virus shall—

a

with all practicable speed notify the fact to the Divisional Veterinary Officer;

b

retain the sample analysed until its disposal is authorised in writing by a verterinary inspector; and

c

if required in writing to do so by a veterinary inspector, surrender any samples in whatever form they are to a veterinary inspector or an officer of the Ministry acting on his behalf.

5

This article shall not apply where the disease or virus has been deliberately introduced into a horse or sample in a laboratory.