PART 3

Suspicion and confirmation of African horse sickness

Measures following suspicion – contact premises
10
1
This article applies where contact premises are designated as suspect premises.
2
If no horse on the premises shows clinical signs of African horse sickness the veterinary inspector—
a
must monitor as appropriate all horses on the premises until the end of the relevant period; and
b
may take and have tested samples from any horse or carcase on the premises.
3
If any horse on the premises shows clinical signs of African horse sickness during the relevant period, the veterinary inspector—
a
must take and have tested samples from it; and
b
may take and have tested samples from any other horse or carcase on the premises.
4
If no horse on the premises has shown clinical signs of African horse sickness at any time during the relevant period and the Chief Veterinary Officer is satisfied following any tests under this article that it is no longer appropriate for the premises to remain designated as suspect premises, the veterinary inspector must revoke the notice served under article 8(2).
5
Where that notice is revoked, the measures in the Schedule, except paragraph 1(4)(a), cease to have effect.
6
Paragraph (7) applies where the Chief Veterinary Officer is satisfied as a result of any—
a
test carried out under this article;
b
clinical signs in any horse on the premises; or
c
epidemiological connection to infected premises,
that African horse sickness virus is present in a horse or carcase or otherwise on the premises.
7
Where this paragraph applies, the veterinary inspector must serve a notice on the main occupier declaring the premises to be infected premises.
8
Where a notice has been served under paragraph (7), the measures in the Schedule continue to have effect.
9
The notice served under paragraph (7) may require the main occupier to erect and maintain such signs on the premises as may be required by the veterinary inspector.
10
If the Chief Veterinary Officer considers it necessary to reduce the risk of spread of African horse sickness virus, the notice may require measures additional to those in the Schedule and paragraph (9).
11
In this article, “the relevant period” is the period determined by the Chief Veterinary Officer to be necessary for establishing whether or not African horse sickness is present in a horse or carcase on the premises.