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The Bluetongue Regulations 2008

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PART 2U.K.Suspected and confirmed bluetongue

Initial requirements where bluetongue is known or suspectedU.K.

8.—(1) The owner or keeper of any animal or carcase, or any person who examines or inspects any animal or carcase, who knows or suspects that the animal or carcase is infected with bluetongue, must—

(a)immediately notify the [F1Secretary of State]; and

(b)not move any animal or carcase on or off the premises where the animal or carcase known to be or suspected of being diseased is located, except as authorised by an inspector.

(2) A person who analyses a sample taken from any animal or carcase and who finds evidence of antibodies to, or antigens or nucleic acids of, the bluetongue virus or any evidence of vaccination for bluetongue must immediately notify the [F2Secretary of State].

F3(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Suspected or infected premisesU.K.

9.—(1) An inspector who knows or suspects that the bluetongue virus exists on any premises must immediately serve a notice on the occupier or on the keeper of any animals on those premises requiring that—

(a)no animal, ovum, semen or embryo enter or leave the premises [F4except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector under paragraph (4)];

(b)an inventory of all animals on the premises is made, recording, for each species—

(i)the number dead;

(ii)the number alive that appear to have bluetongue; and

(iii)the number alive which do not appear to have bluetongue;

(c)the inventory is kept up to date;

(d)all animals on the premises are kept indoors or as directed by an inspector;

(e)the premises and animals on them are subjected to the midge control measures specified in the notice.

(2) A veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector may also serve such a notice on the occupier of premises or the keeper of animals on those premises if the veterinary inspector suspects that animals on the premises have been exposed to the bluetongue virus.

(3) The person making the inventory must keep a record of it for at least two years.

[F5(4) Movements otherwise prohibited under paragraph (1) may be authorised by a licence issued by a veterinary inspector.]

Textual Amendments

Temporary control zonesU.K.

10.—(1) If an inspector suspects that the bluetongue virus exists on any premises, the Secretary of State may declare a temporary control zone.

(2) When a temporary control zone has been established in Wales or Scotland which touches the border with England the Secretary of State may establish an associated temporary control zone in England.

(3) The location and size of the temporary control zone is to be such as the Secretary of State considers appropriate to prevent the spread of disease.

(4) Where a temporary control zone has been established, no person may move any animal [F6or germinal product] on to or off premises in the zone except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector.

F7(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Confirmation of bluetongue on premisesU.K.

11.— [F8(1)]  Once a veterinary inspector is satisfied that bluetongue exists on any premises, the veterinary inspector may serve a notice on the occupier or the keeper of any animals on those premises—

(a)confirming the existence of bluetongue on the premises; F9...

F9(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F10(2) A notice under paragraph (1) may notify the occupier that (notwithstanding regulation 8) it is unnecessary to notify any further suspected cases of bluetongue on the premises to a veterinary inspector.]

Textual Amendments

Measures on confirmation of the bluetongue virusU.K.

12.—(1) If the Chief Veterinary Officer confirms that the bluetongue virus is circulating in England, the Secretary of State, on being satisfied on epidemiological, geographical, ecological or meteorological grounds that this is appropriate for disease control purposes, must declare an area to be a control zone.

(2) The control zone must include the infected premises, and be of such size as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for disease control purposes.

(3) No person may move an animal [F11or germinal product] to or from premises in a control zone [F12except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector].

Textual Amendments

[F13Power to slaughter animalsU.K.

12A.—(1) Section 32 of the Animal Health Act 1981 (which relates to slaughter and compensation) applies to animals slaughtered under these Regulations.]

Textual Amendments

Restrictions in protection and surveillance zonesU.K.

13.—(1) If the Chief Veterinary Officer confirms that the bluetongue virus is circulating in England the Secretary of State—

(a)must declare an appropriate area to be a restricted zone;

(b)may, within a restricted zone, declare any area around an infected premises to be a protection zone, and any area beyond such protection zone to be a surveillance zone;

[F14(1A) A surveillance zone declared by the Secretary of State must not contain any land where animals have been vaccinated with live attenuated vaccines against bluetongue within the last 12 months.

(1B) No person may vaccinate against bluetongue using live attenuated vaccine in a surveillance zone declared under this regulation.]

(2) No person may move an animal, semen, ovum or embryo out of a restricted zone except under the authority of a licence granted by an inspector.

(3) No person may move an animal out of a protection zone except under the authority of a licence granted by an inspector.

(4) [F15An inspector may] grant a licence if the movement is permitted under Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1266/2007 F16..., and the conditions of any licence must be such as to ensure that the movement is made in accordance with that Regulation.

(5) A person is prohibited from moving an animal within a restricted zone if the animal shows clinical signs of bluetongue on the day of transport.

Textual Amendments

SlaughterhousesU.K.

14.—(1) The Secretary of State may designate a slaughterhouse for the purpose of slaughtering animals [F17moved in accordance with these Regulations].

(2) If an animal is transported from a restricted zone to a slaughterhouse outside that restricted zone in accordance with a licence, the operator of the slaughterhouse must slaughter the animal within 24 hours of arrival.

(3) The operator of a slaughterhouse in a surveillance zone may only slaughter an animal from a protection zone if licensed to do so by the Secretary of State.

Textual Amendments

[F18Movement of animals or other thingsU.K.

15.—(1) Following the movement of an animal or germinal product from a premises within a temporary control zone, control zone or restricted zone, a veterinary inspector may by notice served on the occupier of premises to which the animal or germinal product has been moved—

(a)prohibit the movement of that animal or germinal product off the premises to which the animal or germinal product has been moved;

(b)prohibit the movement of any other animal or germinal product on to or off such premises;

(c)specify such requirements as are considered by a veterinary inspector to be necessary in order to prevent the spread of disease.

(2) A movement prohibited by a notice under paragraph (1) may be authorised under a licence issued by an inspector.]

Textual Amendments

Bluetongue outside EnglandU.K.

16.  If bluetongue is confirmed outside England and the Secretary of State considers it appropriate for disease control purposes, the Secretary of State may declare in England a temporary control zone, a control zone, a protection zone, a surveillance zone or a restricted zone (which may be made up of a protection zone and a surveillance zone).

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