The Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

These Regulations revoke and replace the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1971.

Part I contains definitions of terms used in the Regulations and specifies that they do not apply to the armed forces.

Part II provides for the enforcement and execution of the regulations by Health and Social Services Boards and in specified circumstances by officers designated by the Secretary of State (Regulation 4).

Part III provides for the inspection of aircraft, the examination of persons suspected of suffering from, or having been exposed to an infectious disease or being verminous, and in these and other similar circumstances authorises measures to be taken for preventing danger to public health (Regulations 7 to 9). Regulation 11 requires the commander of an aircraft to notify circumstances likely to lead to the spread of infection. Provision is also made for messages to be by radio, or other appropriate means and for the completion of the Health Part of the Aircraft General Declaration in the form set out in Schedule 1.

Regulations 15–17 provide for detention of aircraft and persons.

Regulation 19 provides that a medical officer may place specified persons under surveillance.

Regulation 21 provides that an authorised officer may direct that an aircraft proceed to a customs airport.

Regulation 22 and Schedule 2 provide for additional measures to be applied to certain aircraft and persons.

Regulations 22 and 23 make provisions in relation to aircraft landing in specified circumstances.

Part IV relates to outgoing aircraft. It provides for the examination, etc, in specified circumstances of persons proposing to embark for a destination outside the United Kingdom (Regulation 25) and, after publication by the Department in the Belfast Gazette (Regulation 26) of a notice declaring any place to be infected with diseases, the spread of which might endanger public health, special measures may be taken to prevent the disease spreading.

Part V contains miscellaneous provisions concerning periods of surveillance, charges for services, and expenses of the health authorities enforcing the Regulations. It also contains removal from an area of any aircraft whose commander is unwilling to comply with the Regulations (Regulation 32). Regulation 33 contains a saving provision and regulation 34 a revocation.