The Salmonella in Turkey Flocks and Herds of Slaughter Pigs (Survey Powers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke the Salmonella in Laying Flocks (Survey Powers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 2005 No. 132) and The Salmonella in Broiler Flocks (Survey Powers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 2005 No. 584).

The Regulations provide powers of entry to inspectors to undertake sampling to detect the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in flocks of turkeys as required by Commission Decision 2006/662/EC concerning a financial contribution by the Community towards a baseline survey on the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in turkeys to be carried out in the Member States and in herds of slaughter pigs as required by Commission Decision 2006/668/EC concerning a financial contribution by the Community towards a baseline survey on the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in slaughter pigs to be carried out in the Member States.

Regulation 3 designates the Department as the competent authority for the purposes of Commission Decision 2006/662/EC and Commission Decision 2006/668/EC. Regulation 4 provides that the occupier or person in charge of a holding must, within 7 days of a request, send information to the Department to assist it with the selection of holdings to be included in the survey. Regulation 5 provides that the occupier or person in charge of a slaughterhouse must, within 7 days of a request, send information to the Department to assist it with the survey of slaughter pigs.

Regulation 6 provides inspectors with various powers including a power of entry and power to take samples of faecal material and to examine any records. Regulation 7 creates offences for obstructing an inspector exercising his powers under these Regulations and regulation 8 sets out the applicable penalties.