PART 3Notification and testing
Notification of abortion or premature calving9.
(1)
Where the owner or keeper of bovine animals kept on any premises reasonably believes that an abortion or premature calving has occurred, that person must within 24 hours–
(a)
give notice of that belief to a veterinary inspector; and
(b)
arrange for the isolation so far as practicable of the animal concerned and its foetus or calf and placenta from all other bovine animals and steers on the premises.
(2)
Any owner or person subject to a duty under paragraph (1)(b) must ensure that an animal to which that paragraph relates remains in isolation, and its foetus or calf and placenta must be retained by the owner or keeper of the animal until such time as a veterinary inspector serves a notice requiring the disposal or destruction of the foetus or calf and placenta.
(3)
If any person on whom a notice under paragraph (2) is served fails to comply with it, the Scottish Ministers may, without prejudice to any proceedings for an offence arising out of such default, carry out or cause to be carried out the requirements of the notice, and any expenses reasonably incurred by the Scottish Ministers are recoverable by them from the person in default.
(4)
In this article, “abortion or premature calving” means an abortion or calving which takes place less than 271 days after service or insemination, or less than 265 days after implantation or transfer of an embryo, whether the calf is born dead or alive.