The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (No. 2) Order 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order revokes and re-makes with amendments the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1996. The Order continues to provide for—

(a) the compulsory notification of BSE in bovine animals (article 5);

(b) the investigation, examination, testing and sampling and marking of bovine animals and their carcases for this purpose (article 6(1) and (2));

(c) the imposition of requirements in respect of affected or suspected animals or carcases by service of a notice in Form A (article 6);

(d) the prohibition on movement of other bovine animals by notice in writing (article 8);

(e) the cleansing and disinfection of premises and equipment (article 9);

(f) the application of section 32 of the Animal Health Act 1981 (slaughter of animals) (article 10);

(g) the seizure of carcases for the purposes of preventing the spread of the disease and the provision of compensation (article 11);

(h) the prohibition (subject to certain exemptions) of the sale, supply and use of milk from affected or suspected animals (article 12);

(i) the prohibition (subject to certain exemptions) of the sale, supply and use of feeding stuffs containing mammalian protein or mammalian meat and bone meal (articles 13 and 14);

(j) the prohibition (subject to certain exemptions) of the possession of mammalian meat and bone meal or any product containing mammalian meat and bone meal on any premises where livestock feeding stuffs are produced or stored, or where livestock is kept (article 14);

(k) the cleansing and disinfection of places, vehicles and equipment where mammalian meat and bone meal and MBM products have been produced, stored or used (article 15);

(l) the disposal of mammalian meat and bone meal and MBM products by persons for whom possession of such products is illegal and the recall of any feeding stuff for livestock found to have been illegally sold (article 16);

(m) the keeping of records by persons consigning, transporting and using mammalian meat and bone meal (article 17); and

(n) sampling of protein or feeding stuffs (article 18), production of licences (article 19), offences (article 20) and enforcment (article 21).

The Order introduces new provisions which impose requirements relating to exposed animals or carcases of exposed animals (articles 7 and 10(3)).

In making provision for the slaughter of animals exposed to the infection of BSE, the Order implements in part Article 2 of Commission Decision 96/385/EC approving the plan for the eradication of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the United Kingdom (OJ No. L151, 26.6.96, p.39).

A Compliance Cost Assessment for this Order has been prepared and placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from the Animal Health (BSE) Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Government Buildings (Toby Jug), Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 7DX.