PART 3Suspicion and confirmation of African horse sickness
Initial controls following notification7.
(1)
This article applies where—
(a)
the authorised veterinary inspector receives a notification under article 5; and
(b)
a veterinary inspector considers that further investigation relating to the possible presence of African horse sickness virus is necessary.
(2)
The veterinary inspector must inform (orally or otherwise) the person who gave the notification and, if different, the main occupier of the premises where the notified horse or carcase (as the case may be) is located, that further investigation is necessary.
(3)
Where that person has, or those persons have, been so informed, the controls in paragraph (7) apply in relation to the premises where the notified horse or carcase (as the case may be) is located.
(4)
Where those premises are not the premises where the notified horse is normally kept or, in the case of a notified carcase, the horse before it died was normally kept, the veterinary inspector may also inform (orally or otherwise) the main occupier of those other premises that further investigation is necessary.
(5)
Where that main occupier has been so informed, the controls in paragraph (7), other than in sub-paragraph (a)(i), apply in relation to those other premises.
(6)
The veterinary inspector—
(a)
must go to the premises where the notified horse or carcase is located and examine that horse or carcase and may examine any other horse or carcase there; and
(b)
where paragraph (4) applies, may go to those other premises and examine any horse or carcase there.
(7)
The controls are that—
(a)
no person may move—
(i)
the notified horse or carcase from the premises where it is located;
(ii)
any equipment or genetic material from the premises; or
(iii)
any other horse or carcase from or to the premises, except that any horse normally kept at the premises may return there; and
(b)
if required by the veterinary inspector and to the extent that it is practicable to do so, the main occupier must ensure that—
(i)
all horses are moved away from any part of the premises where vectors are likely to be present; and
(ii)
areas which may be breeding grounds for vectors are identified and any available vector control measures directed by the veterinary inspector are implemented.
(8)
The controls imposed under this article continue to apply until—
(a)
the veterinary inspector confirms (orally or otherwise) to any occupier of the premises that the presence of African horse sickness virus on the premises is not suspected; or
(b)
the premises become suspect premises M1.