The African Swine Fever (England) Order 2003

Measures while the suspicion of the disease is being investigated E+W+S

5.—(1) Where a veterinary inspector suspects that the disease may exist or may within the previous 56 days have existed on any holding, slaughterhouse, knacker’s yard, any other place or means of transport whether or not notification has been given under article 4, he shall—

(a) serve a notice—

(i) on the occupier of a holding imposing the restrictions and requirements set out in paragraphs (2) and (3); or

(ii) on the occupier of the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard or the person appearing to him to be in charge of the means of transport, imposing such of the restrictions and requirements set out in paragraphs (2) and (3) as appear to the veterinary inspector to be appropriate; and

(b) carry out an investigation to confirm or rule out the presence of the disease.

(2) When a notice is served under paragraph (1) the occupier shall—

(a) prepare, under the direction of a veterinary inspector, a record by category of—

(i) the number of pigs;

(ii) the number of live pigs which appear to be free of disease;

(iii) the number of live pigs which appear to have the disease;

(iv) the number of pigs that died in the 56 days prior to the date of the notice;

(b) ensure that the record is kept up to date to take account of pigs that are born or die during the period that restrictions and requirements under this paragraph and paragraph (3) are in force and to record the number of pigs which fall sick having been previously apparently free of disease;

(c) produce the record to an inspector on request;

(d) ensure that all pigs on the premises are kept in their living quarters or some other place specified in the notice;

(e) ensure that, in accordance with any instructions given by a veterinary inspector, appropriate means of disinfection are placed at the entrances and exits to those parts of the premises in which pigs are being kept and of the premises themselves.

(3) When a notice has been served under paragraph (1) no person shall—

(a) move any pigs on to or off the premises except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector and the occupier shall ensure that pigs are unable to stray from or on to the premises;

(b) move any meat, carcase, pig product, semen, ovum or embryo of pigs, or any animal feed, utensil, material or waste or other thing likely to transmit the disease from the premises, except in accordance with a licence issued by an inspector;

(c) come on to or off the premises except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector;

(d) move any vehicle on to or off the premises except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector.

(4) Where a veterinary inspector has grounds for suspecting the presence of vectors on particular premises in consequence of their location, geographical situation or contacts with other premises where the disease is known or suspected to exist (in England or elsewhere), he or an inspector acting under his direction, may serve a notice of the grounds on the occupier of the particular premises, and thereupon a veterinary inspector, an inspector acting in accordance with a veterinary inspector’s direction or an officer of the Secretary of State may enter the particular premises.