The Non-Indigenous Rabbits (Prohibition of Importation and Keeping) Order 1954

Statutory Instruments

1954 No. 927

ANIMALS

The Non-Indigenous Rabbits (Prohibition of Importation and Keeping) Order, 1954

Made

10th June 1954

Coming into Operation

1st August 1954

Whereas Section 10 of the Destructive Imported Animals Act, 1932, empowers the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Secretary of State for Scotland to make with respect to animals of any non-indigenous mammalian species any such Order as they are empowered by subsection (1) of Section 1 of that Act to make with respect to musk rats, if they are satisfied with respect to such animals that by reason of their destructive habits it is desirable to prohibit their importation and keeping.

And Whereas the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Secretary of State for Scotland are so satisfied with respect to the animals the subject of this Order,

And Whereas this Order, made in pursuance of the hereinbefore mentioned power, shall be of no effect until a resolution approving it has been passed by each House of Parliament,

Now, therefore, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Secretary of State for Scotland by virtue and in exercise of the power vested in them by Section 10 of the Destructive Imported Animals Act, 1932, and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, acting jointly, hereby make the following Order:—

Citation and Commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Non-Indigenous Rabbits (Prohibition of Importation and Keeping) Order, 1954 and shall come into operation on the first day of August, 1954.

Prohibition of Importation and Keeping of Non-Indigenous Rabbits

2.  The importation into and keeping within Great Britain of any animal of any species of rabbit other than the species designated Oryctolagus Cuniculus (being the species commonly known as the European rabbit) is prohibited.

In Witness whereof the Official Seal of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries is hereunto affixed this tenth day of June, nineteen hundred and fifty-four.

L.S.

Tom Dugdale

Given under the Seal of the Secretary of State for Scotland this tenth day of June, nineteen hundred and fifty-four.

L.S.

James Stuart

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order prohibits the importation into Great Britain and the keeping within Great Britain of all species of non-indigenous rabbits. The making of the Order has the effect of applying, in relation to those animals, the provisions of the Destructive Imported Animals Act, 1932. It does not affect the importation and keeping of the European rabbit or those varieties of it kept for commercial and domestic purposes.