20.—(1) This regulation shall apply where the Department learns of or has reasonable grounds to suspect, either under the procedures set out in Article 10 of Council Directive 90/425/EEC or Article 18 of Council Directive 91/496/EEC, or through any other means, the presence in any state outside the United Kingdom of a disease referred to in Schedule 3, a zoonosis or any other disease or phenomenon liable to present a serious threat to public or animal health.
(2) In the circumstances described in paragraph (1), the Department may, for the purpose of preventing the introduction or spreading of disease into or within Northern Ireland, by declaration suspend, or impose conditions upon, the entry into Northern Ireland of any animal or animal product from the whole or any part of that state.
(3) Such a declaration shall be published in such manner as the Department thinks fit.
(4) Where a declaration is in force suspending the entry of any animal or animal product, no person shall bring that animal or animal product into Northern Ireland if it is dispatched from, or originates from, the state or part thereof specified in the declaration.
(5) A declaration made under this regulation may specify conditions under which the animal or animal product which is the subject of the declaration may be imported.
(6) Upon a declaration being made under this regulation, the entry into Northern Ireland of any animal or animal product which is the subject of the declaration shall be in breach of the conditions of import in these Regulations unless it complies with the conditions (if any) specified in the declaration.