16Powers of veterinary inspectors.N.I.
(1)Where any animal examined in the course of import into or export from Northern Ireland appears to a veterinary inspector to be in such a physical condition that it would be cruel to keep it alive, the veterinary inspector may require the owner or person having charge of the animal forthwith to have it destroyed as humanely as possible.
(2)Where it is not reasonably practicable for a veterinary inspector to require the owner or person having charge of the animal to have it destroyed forthwith, or where that person does not comply with a requirement under subsection (1), the veterinary inspector shall cause or procure the animal to be destroyed as humanely as possible.
(3)Where the carcase of an animal destroyed under this section is not removed by or on behalf of the owner within a reasonable time, a veterinary inspector may, having regard to the condition of the carcase and any other circumstances, cause or procure it to be buried, sold or otherwise disposed of in such manner as he thinks fit.
(4)Where a carcase is sold under subsection (3) and the proceeds of the sale equal or exceed the expenses incurred under subsections (2) and (3), the Ministry shall retain the amount of those expenses and shall pay the excess, if any, to the owner; and where those expenses exceed the proceeds of the sale, the owner shall be liable to pay the excess to the Ministry.
(5)Any expenses incurred by a veterinary inspector in the exercise of his powers under subsections (2) and (3), less any amount retained by or paid to the Ministry under subsection (4), may be recovered summarily as a civil debt by the Ministry from the owner of the animal.
(6)No action shall lie against a veterinary inspector in respect of anything done by him or at his request in the exercise of his functions under this section.
(7)In this section, “veterinary inspector” means a veterinary surgeon appointed by the Ministry to be an inspector.