The Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No.4) Regulations 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke and re-make with amendments the Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No.3) Regulations 2007. The principal amendments allow the export of certain meat from specified areas (regulation 6(5) and (6) and the Schedule). The Regulations implement Commission Decision of 12 October 2007 amending Decision 2007/554/EC concerning certain protection measures against foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom (not yet published in the Official Journal).

They regulate—

(a) the importation and dispatch of live animals (regulations 4 and 5);

(b) the export of meat from bovine, ovine caprine and porcine animals and other biungulates, and the sale of meat not eligible for export (regulation 6);

(c) the export of meat products, milk and dairy products (regulations 7, 8 and 9);

(d) the export of semen, ova or embryos of animals of the bovine, ovine, caprine or porcine species or other biungulates (regulation 10), hides and skins (regulation 11) and various animal products (regulation 12); and

(e) personal exports (regulation 15).

They create an offence of offering to export anything which it is prohibited to export under the Regulations (regulation 16).

They provide powers for enforcement, and powers for officers of Revenue and Customs (regulations 17 to 19) and create an offence of obstruction (regulation 20).

Breach of the Regulations is an offence, punishable with up to two years’ imprisonment.

The Regulations are enforced by the Secretary of State or the local authority (regulation 25).

An impact assessment has not been prepared for these Regulations.