The Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Control of Vaccination) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations transpose for Northern Ireland Council Directive 2003/85/EC on Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease (O.J. No. L306, 22.11.2003, p. 1) insofar as it deals with vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease.

Part 1 of the Regulations contains introductory and interpretation provisions.

Part 2 makes provision for a programme of vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease.

Regulation 8 requires vaccination to be carried out under licence unless it is carried out as scientific research.

Regulation 9 sets out the factors the Department must consider when deciding whether to permit vaccination and regulation 10 requires such a decision to be in writing and to contain specified information.

Regulation 11 provides for the effect of a licence permitting vaccination.

Regulation 12 requires keepers of animals to facilitate their vaccination and controls movement of animals from premises where vaccination is being undertaken.

Regulations 13 to 25 apply when a programme of protective vaccination (defined in regulation 2, commonly referred to as “vaccination to live”) is undertaken. They provide for the declaration of a vaccination zone and a vaccination surveillance zone. Regulation 22 and the Schedule provide for the measures applying in a vaccination zone. These vary according to the phase of the vaccination programme; the commencement and ending of phases are also provided for in regulation 22. Regulation 25 provides for the measures applying in a vaccination surveillance zone.

Regulation 17 provides for identification of vaccinated animals by means of an eartag at the time of vaccination. Regulation 18 provides for removal of eartags and missing eartags. Regulation 19 prohibits the sale or sending for slaughter of a vaccinated animal unless it is identified as such. Regulations 20 and 21 provides for animals which were to have been included in a vaccination programme but were not vaccinated and for their carcases. Regulation 21 also makes provision for the treatment of carcases which come from a vaccinated animal but are not being dealt with accordingly.

Regulation 23 provides for the survey of premises during phase 2 of a programme of protective vaccination and their classification according to the results of that survey.

Regulation 26 requires the Department to erect signs indicating the boundaries of vaccination zones and vaccination surveillance zones.

Regulation 27 prohibits the sending of vaccinated animals for intra-Community trade.

Part 3 makes general and supplementary provisions.

Regulation 28 requires occupiers to provide facilities, equipment and materials where cleansing and disinfection of vehicles is required on their premises.

Regulation 29 makes provision to maintain marks applied under the Regulations.

Regulation 30 provides for the feeding and tending of animals or poultry which cannot be moved on termination of a right of occupation because of a restriction imposed by the Regulations.

Regulation 38 confers general powers on an inspector to take action to prevent the spread of disease.