The Diseases of Swine Regulations 2014

PART 4 Suspicion and confirmation of disease at a slaughterhouse

Measures on suspicion and confirmation of disease at a slaughterhouse

19.—(1) Where a veterinary inspector has examined a pig or pig carcase at a slaughterhouse and cannot negate the presence of disease an inspector must serve a notice on the operator of the slaughterhouse imposing the following measures—

(a) no pig or carcase may be moved to or from the slaughterhouse;

(b) no other animal may be moved to or from the slaughterhouse if the veterinary inspector suspects there is a risk that it could spread disease;

(c) all biosecurity measures that the veterinary inspector believes are necessary must be taken by the operator;

(d) no pig can be slaughtered unless authorised by a veterinary inspector; and

(e) the operator must identify and isolate—

(i) any carcase of a suspect pig;

(ii) a pig that has come into contact with a suspect pig;

(iii) any carcase from the same premises as a suspect pig; and

(iv) any carcase that has been in contact with a paragraph (iii) carcase.

(2) A veterinary inspector may take samples from a pig, carcase or any other thing and have those samples tested to ascertain whether or not disease is present at the slaughterhouse.

(3) Following the results of the tests carried out under paragraph (2), where the Chief Veterinary Officer is satisfied that that disease is not present at the slaughterhouse—

(a) a veterinary inspector must as soon as reasonably practicable orally inform the operator that disease has not been found to be present, at which point the paragraph (1) measures no longer apply; and

(b) this must be followed up in writing as soon as reasonably practicable.

(4) Following the results of the tests carried out under paragraph (2), where the Chief Veterinary Officer is satisfied that disease is present at the slaughterhouse, the appropriate authority must ensure that all pigs in the slaughterhouse are slaughtered without delay under the supervision of a veterinary inspector.

(5) Following such slaughter—

(a) the operator must destroy—

(i) the carcases and offal of infected pigs;

(ii) the carcases and offal of other pigs that a veterinary inspector suspects may be infected with disease;

(iii) the carcases and offal of other pigs contaminated through contact with an infected pig or carcase;

(b) cleansing and disinfection of buildings, equipment and vehicles (including control of vectors where African swine fever has been linked to spread by vectors) must be carried out by the operator as instructed by a veterinary inspector;

(c) an epidemiological enquiry by a veterinary inspector must take place;

(d) other than in the situation in sub-paragraph (e), a veterinary inspector must notify the operator of the removal of the paragraph (1) measures at the slaughterhouse on the expiry of 24 hours after cleansing and disinfection operations have been completed at the slaughterhouse to the satisfaction of the veterinary inspector; and

(e) in the case of African swine fever, in addition to the veterinary inspector being satisfied in accordance with sub-paragraph (d), the veterinary inspector must be satisfied that any vector controls (if required) have been effectively applied before notifying the operator of the removal of the paragraph (1) measures.