The Diseases of Swine Regulations 2014

Compulsory vaccination and controls for pigs vaccinated against swine vesicular disease

31.—(1) This regulation applies where swine vesicular disease has been confirmed.

(2) Following confirmation of swine vesicular disease, the appropriate authority may declare an emergency vaccination zone in which every keeper inside the zone must ensure the vaccination of their pigs after considering relevant criteria and risk factors, including—

(a) the rate at which outbreaks are confirmed;

(b) the density of pigs in the area;

(c) the likelihood of further outbreaks in the area for at least the next two months; and

(d) the availability of resources to control disease.

(3) Premises which are partly inside and partly outside the outer boundary of an emergency vaccination zone must be deemed to be wholly inside that zone.

(4) As far as reasonably practicable the appropriate authority must notify every keeper within the zone regarding the emergency vaccination requirements.

(5) A person in possession or charge of a pig that has been vaccinated under this regulation must—

(a) ensure that the pig is identified in accordance with instructions from a veterinary inspector; and

(b) keep a record of the date when the pig was vaccinated.

(6) A person must not move a pig from premises in an emergency vaccination zone unless a licence is granted by a veterinary inspector to move it direct to a designated slaughterhouse.

(7) Before sending a vaccinated pig to a slaughterhouse the person responsible for its movement must notify the operator of the slaughterhouse of the expected time of arrival of the pig.

(8) The operator of a slaughterhouse must ensure that—

(a) vaccinated pigs are kept and slaughtered separately from unvaccinated pigs; and

(b) carcases of vaccinated pigs are kept separate from carcases of unvaccinated pigs.

(9) In the case of a pig outside an emergency vaccination zone—

(a) a veterinary inspector may serve a notice on the keeper to require the vaccination of the pig on those premises in accordance with the conditions of that notice; and

(b) a person must not move the vaccinated pig from the premises on which it was vaccinated except to a designated slaughterhouse under a licence granted by a veterinary inspector.