The Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

Control of zoonoses N.I.

7.—(1) The Department may by order designate any disease of, or organism carried in, animals or poultry which in the opinion of the Department constitutes a risk to human health.

(2) Where any disease or organism is for the time being designated under this Article, the Department may by order—

(a) provide for any provision of this Order which has effect in relation to the disease to have effect subject to such modifications as may be specified in the order;

(b) apply any provision of this Order, subject to any modifications so specified, in relation to the presence of the organism in an animal or bird as if the presence of the organism were a disease.

(3) The Department may by order require a person who in such circumstances as are specified by the order, knows or has reason to suspect that an animal or bird of such description as is specified in the order is or was—

(a) affected with a disease designated under this Article; or

(b) a carrier of an organism so designated,

to furnish to such person and in such form and within such period as are specified in the order such information relating to the animal or bird as is so specified.

(4) If it appears to the Department that a person may have information relating to an animal or bird affected with a disease designated under this Article or an animal or bird which is a carrier of an organism so designated, the Department may by notice require him to furnish to such person and in such form and within such period as are specified in the notice such information relating to the animal or bird as he possesses and is so specified.

(5) Where an inspector has reason to believe that an animal or bird such as is mentioned in paragraph (4) is or has been on any land he may, on production if required of his credentials,—

(a) enter the land and make such tests and take such samples of any animal, bird, feeding stuff, litter, dung, vessel, pen, vehicle or other thing whatsoever which is on, or forms part of the land as he thinks appropriate for the purpose of ascertaining whether such an animal or bird is or has been on the land; and

(b) require the owner or person having charge of any animals or poultry on the land to take such reasonable steps as the inspector may specify for the purpose of collecting or restraining them so as to facilitate the exercise in relation to them of the powers conferred on the inspector by sub-paragraph (a).

(6) In this Article “disease” is not restricted by its definition in Article 2(2).