The African Horse Sickness (Scotland) Order 2012

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order implements in Scotland the provisions of Council Directive 92/35/EEC laying down control rules and measures to combat African horse sickness. It revokes the provisions of the Specified Diseases (Notification and Slaughter) Order 1992 and the Specified Diseases (Notification) Order 1996 in so far as they apply to African horse sickness.

Part 1 is introductory and includes definitions.

Part 2 deals with notification of suspicion of African horse sickness.

Part 3 and the Schedule make provision for where African horse sickness is suspected or confirmed on premises. Part 3 also deals with premises which have a link with infected premises and makes provision, following the declaration of premises as infected premises, to prevent horses from being brought onto other premises due to the risk of African horse sickness virus spreading.

Part 4 deals with slaughterhouses.

Part 5 makes special provision for non-captive horses.

Part 6 and the Schedule make provision for the establishment of area controls by way of declaration of different zones.

Part 7 prohibits vaccination against African horse sickness except in the circumstances set out there, and contains powers to declare a vaccination zone.

Part 8 contains provisions relating to enforcement and other matters.

This Order is enforced by the local authority, unless the Scottish Ministers direct otherwise.

Breach of this Order is an offence under section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981, punishable in accordance with section 75 of that Act.

A business and regulatory impact assessment has been prepared and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Copies may be obtained from the Scottish Government Directorate for Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities, Animal Health and Welfare Division, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD.