The Bluetongue Regulations 2008

Powers of veterinary inspectors, officers and inspectors U.K.

20.—(1) On producing, if required, a duly authenticated document showing the required authority, a veterinary inspector or an officer or inspector of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector may, at all reasonable hours, enter any premises, vehicle or vessel for the purpose of monitoring or surveillance for the bluetongue virus, antibodies to the bluetongue virus or midges.

(2) On producing, if required, a duly authenticated document showing the required authority, an inspector or an officer of the Secretary of State may, at all reasonable hours, enter any premises, vehicle or vessel for the purpose of ensuring that these Regulations are being complied with.

(3) A person entering premises, a vehicle or a vessel under paragraphs (1) or (2) may take with him —

(a) any equipment; and

(b) such other person as is appropriate.

(4) Any person entering premises under paragraphs (1) or (2) may take a vehicle with him.

(5) An inspector or an officer of the Secretary of State may—

(a) detain, [F1 isolate or] restrain any animal;

(b) require the detention, isolation or restraint of any animal;

(c) mark for identification purposes any animal, carcase or thing;

(d) detain or isolate any thing;

(e) require the detention or isolation of any thing;

(f) require any person who knows about an animal’s movements to give details of those movements and of any other animal with which it has been in contact;

(g) require the occupier of premises or keeper of animals on those premises to give details of animals either on those premises or on other premises where the occupier or keeper has animals;

(h) require the production of any record kept under these Regulations, in whatever form that record is held;

(i) copy any record referred to in paragraph (f); or

(j) inspect and check the operation of any computer and associated apparatus or material used in the connection with the making and keeping of records under these Regulations.

(6) A veterinary inspector or an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector may —

(a) examine any carcase or thing;

(b) require the treatment of any animal;

(c) carry out an epidemiological investigation relevant to the control of bluetongue;

(d) carry out tests and take samples (including blood samples) from any animal, carcase or thing for the purpose of diagnosis or epidemiological investigation;

(e) trap midges;

(f) implement midge control measures;

(g) require the destruction, burial, disposal or treatment of any thing; or

(h) require the cleansing and disinfection of any part of the premises or of any person, animal, vehicle, vessel or thing on the premises.

(7) A veterinary inspector may—

(a) on entering any premises, vehicle or vessel under this regulation, examine or vaccinate any animal;

(b) require, by notice, the occupier of premises or the keeper of animals on premises to —

(i) allow the vaccination of any animal kept there;

(ii) retain animals for use as sentinel animals or allow the introduction of sentinel animals onto those premises; or

(iii) move an animal which has been moved other than in accordance with regulations 13 or 15 to a place specified by the veterinary inspector;

(8) “Sentinel animal” means an animal that is used for surveillance for the bluetongue virus which does not have antibodies to the bluetongue virus of the strain in respect of which surveillance is being carried out when first introduced or retained at the premises.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 20(5)(a) substituted (20.12.2023) by The Exotic Disease (Amendment) (England) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1415), arts. 1(1), 5(12)