The Specified Diseases (Notification) Order 1996

Notification of spongiform encephalopathy

4.—(1) For the purposes of the Animal Health Act 1981 in its application to this article—

(a) the definition of “animals” in section 87(1) is hereby extended to comprise—

(i) any kind of mammal except man, and

(ii) any kind of four-footed beast which is not a mammal;

(b) the definition of “poultry” in section 87(4) is hereby extended to comprise birds of all species; and

(c) the definition of “disease” in section 88(1) is hereby extended to comprise any form of spongiform encephalopathy.

(2) A person who, in the course of a laboratory examination of the carcase of any poultry, or of any animal other than a sheep, goat or animal of the bovine species, reasonably suspects the presence of spongiform encephalopathy, shall—

(a) give notice of that fact as soon as practicable in accordance with article 5(1) below;

(b) retain the sample examined and the remainder of the carcase until its disposal is authorised in writing by a veterinary inspector; and

(c) if required in writing to do so by a veterinary inspector, surrender any samples in whatever form they are to a veterinary inspector.

(3) This article shall not apply in relation to any spongiform encephalopathy which has been deliberately introduced into an animal, a carcase or a sample in a laboratory.