http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/463The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1998Animal healthBirdsAnimalsFoot and mouth diseasePoultryANIMALS;ANIMAL HEALTHStatute Law Database2025-12-09Expert Participation2009-03-01 This Order revokes and re-enacts with amendments the Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/3250). The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1998art 4The Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Prohibition of Vaccination) (Wales) Regulations 2001art 3(2)The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1998art 4The Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Control of Vaccination) (England) Regulations 2001reg 3(2) 1998 No. 463ANIMALSANIMAL HEALTH<Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S">The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1998</Repeal>Made27th February 1998Coming into force1st April 1998The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, acting jointly, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 1, 7, 8, 35(1), 87(2) and (5) and 88(2) and (4) of the Animal Health Act 1981 and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, make the following Order: <Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S">Title and commencement</Repeal>1This Order may be cited as the Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1998 and shall come into force on 1st April 1998.<Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S">Extension of the definition of “animal”, “poultry” and “disease”</Repeal>2For the purposes of the Animal Health Act 1981 in relation to this Order—athe definition of “animal” is hereby extended so as to comprise any kind of mammal except man, and any kind of four-footed beast which is not a mammal;bthe definition of “poultry” is hereby extended so as to comprise any species of bird;cthe definition of “disease” is hereby extended so as to comprise any disease of animals and poultry which may be caused by one or more specified animal pathogens.<Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S">Interpretation</Repeal>31In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires—“animal” includes poultry;“carrier” means any living creature except man which may carry or transmit a specified animal pathogen or the tissue, cell culture, body fluid, excreta, carcase or part of a carcase of such creature by or by means of which a specified animal pathogen may be transmitted;“specified animal pathogen” means an animal pathogen listed in the Schedule to this Order, including—intact pathogens;pathogens which have been attenuated or genetically modified by any means, andany nucleic acid derived from an animal pathogen listed in the Schedule which could produce that pathogen when introduced into a biological system in which the nucleic acid is capable of replicating.2A licence or notice issued under this Order shall be in writing, may be subject to conditions and may be modified, suspended or revoked by notice in writing served on the licensee or recipient of the original notice at any time.<Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S"><Addition ChangeId="key-e363ea050972f9bf76baf8d91662fcce-1764683953154" CommentaryRef="key-e363ea050972f9bf76baf8d91662fcce" Extent="E">Prohibitions in relation to specified animal pathogens</Addition></Repeal>41No person shall have in his possession—aany animal pathogen specified in Part 1 of the Schedule to this Order; orbany carrier in which he knows such a pathogen is present,except under the authority of a licence issued by the Secretary of State.2No person shall deliberately introduce into any animal any animal pathogen specified in either Part 1 or Part 2 of that Schedule, except under the authority of a licence issued by the Secretary of State.3Paragraphs (1) and (2) are subject to article 5.4If any person has in his possession any thing in respect of which he has reasonable grounds for suspecting that an animal pathogen specified in Part 1 of that Schedule is present, and does not have a licence in respect of that pathogen, he shall forthwith notify a veterinary inspector.<Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S">Exceptions</Repeal>51Article 4 above shall not apply to any person who is transporting a pathogen or carrier and who does not own or have any rights in that pathogen or carrier.2Article 4 above shall not apply in relation to any pathogen or carrier contained in a product—apermitted to be placed on the market under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005 or the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations etc) Regulations 1994;blicensed in accordance with the provisions of section 7(2) of the Medicines Act 1968; orcin respect of which an animal test certificate has been issued in accordance with regulation 8(3) of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005.<Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S">Powers of inspectors</Repeal>61Where an inspector has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a specified animal pathogen or a carrier is in the possession of a person who does not hold a licence permitting work with that pathogen in contravention of this Order or in contravention of a condition of a licence granted under this Order he may at any time seize, or cause to be seized, such pathogen, carrier or any material in which he reasonably suspects such pathogen to have been kept or into which he reasonably suspects it to have been introduced.2A veterinary inspector may, if he considers it expedient to do so for the purpose of preventing the introduction or spreading of disease into or within Great Britain, detain, treat or destroy any pathogen, carrier or material seized under paragraph (1) above.3A veterinary inspector may, by notice in writing served upon the occupier of any premises (including a dwelling house), or upon the owner or person in charge of any vehicle by which any specified pathogen, carrier or material is or has been present in contravention of this Order or of a licence issued under it, require the person on whom the notice was served to cleanse and disinfect such premises, place or vehicle in such manner as he may by such notice specify at the expense of the person on whom the notice is served.4Where the requirements of a notice served under paragraph (3) above have not been complied with, a veterinary inspector may carry out or cause to be carried out the cleansing and disinfection specified in the notice at the expense of the person on whom the notice has been served.<Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S">Production of licences</Repeal>7Any person acting under the authority of a licence shall produce it on demand to a veterinary inspector, officer of the appropriate Minister or an inspector of the local authority and allow a copy of it to be taken and shall, if required by that person, furnish his name and address.<Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S">Enforcement</Repeal>8This Order shall be enforced by the local authority.<Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S">Revocation and transitional provision</Repeal>91The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1993 is revoked.2Any notice or licence issued under the Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1993 shall continue to have effect as if made under the equivalent provision of this Order.Jeff RookerMinister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food17th February 1998SewelParliamentary Under Secretary of State, Scottish Office19th February 1998Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for WalesWin GriffithsParliamentary Under Secretary of State, Welsh Office27th February 1998 SCHEDULE<Repeal ChangeId="key-3a4c5d5c82312df7be7eab5260293500-1764687065471" CommentaryRef="key-60d71b5a5eaf6075aaaacefc1b99fa04" RetainText="true" Extent="W+S"><Addition ChangeId="key-fe04494cbbbbead8f91f9b07a2b46e66-1764684994800" CommentaryRef="key-fe04494cbbbbead8f91f9b07a2b46e66" Extent="E">SPECIFIED ANIMAL PATHOGENS</Addition></Repeal>Articles 3 and 4PART 1

African horse sickness virusAfrican swine fever virusAujeszky’s disease virusAvian influenza viruses which are —uncharacterised;Type A viruses which have an intravenous pathogenicity index in six-week-old chickens of greater than 1.2; orType A viruses H5 or H7 subtype for which nucleotide sequencing has demonstrated multiple basic amino acids at the cleavage site of haemagglutininBabesia bovis, Babesia bigemina and Babesia caballiBacillus anthracisBluetongue virusBovine leukosis virusBrucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, Brucella ovis and Brucella suisBurkholderia malleiClassical swine fever virusCochliomyia hominivoraxEastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis virusesEchinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosusEhrlichia ruminantiumEquine infectious anaemia virusFoot and mouth disease virusHendra disease virusHistoplasma farciminosumJapanese encephalitis virusLumpy skin disease virusMycoplasma agalactiae, Mycoplasma capricolum sub species capripneumoniae, Mycoplasma mycoides sub species mycoides SC and mycoides LC variants and Mycoplasma mycoides var capriNewcastle disease (avian paramyxovirus type 1) viruses which are —uncharacterised; orhave an intracerebral pathogenicity index in one-day-old chicks of 0.4 or more, when not less than 10 million 50% egg infectious doses (EID50) are administered to each bird in the testNipah disease virusPeste des petits ruminants virusRabies virus and all viruses of the genus LyssavirusRift Valley Fever virusRinderpest virusSt Louis equine encephalomyelitis virusSheep and goat pox virusSwine vesicular disease virusTeschen disease virusTheileria annulata, Theileria equi and Theileria parvaTrichinella spiralisTrypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma equiperdum, Trypanosoma evansi, Trypanosoma simiae and Trypanosoma vivaxVenezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virusVesicular stomatitis virusWest Nile virus

PART 2

The live virus causing viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits

 (This note is not part of the Order)

This Order revokes and re-enacts with amendments the Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/3250).

It extends the definition of “specified animal pathogen” to include nucleic acid derived from a pathogen listed in the Schedule and which may be capable of producing that pathogen (article 3). It prohibits the possession of the pathogens listed in Part I of the Schedule and the introduction into any animal of any pathogen listed in the Schedule, except under the authority of a licence issued by the appropriate Minister.

If any person who does not hold such a licence possesses anything which he suspects contains a pathogen listed in Part I of the Schedule he is required to notify a veterinary inspector (article 4). There are exceptions for veterinary and human medicines (article 5). There are provisions relating to powers of inspectors and production of licences (articles 6 and 7). The Order is enforced by the local authority (article 8).

The Schedule is amended to include in the list of specified animal pathogens Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Bovine leukosis virus, Brucella abortus, Cowdria ruminatum, Equine morbillivirus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Mycoplasma capricolum sub species capripneumoniae, all rabies viruses, Theileria parva, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma simiae, and Trypanosoma vivax. Only pathogenic or uncharacterised strains of Newcastle diesase are included. The live virus causing viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits is included only in Part II of the Schedule. Horse pox virus and Trypanosoma theileri have been removed from the Schedule.

A Regulatory Appraisal has been prepared and placed in the Library of each House of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from the Animal Health (Disease Control) Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Government Buildings, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 7NF.

 1981 c. 22; see section 86(1) for a definition of “the Ministers”. Section 35(1) was amended by section 1 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984 (c. 40). 1968 c. 67. S.I. 1993/3250. Art. 1 in force at 1.4.1998, see art. 1Art. 5 in force at 1.4.1998, see art. 1Art. 2 in force at 1.4.1998, see art. 1Art. 3 in force at 1.4.1998, see art. 1Art. 6 in force at 1.4.1998, see art. 1Art. 7 in force at 1.4.1998, see art. 1Art. 8 in force at 1.4.1998, see art. 1Art. 9 in force at 1.4.1998, see art. 1Art. 4 substituted (E.) (4.7.2006) by The Specified Animal Pathogens (Amendment) (England) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1506), arts. 1(1), 2(2)Sch. substituted (E.) (4.7.2006) by The Specified Animal Pathogens (Amendment) (England) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1506), art. 1(1), Sch.Order revoked (W.) (10.5.2008) by The Specified Animal Pathogens (Wales) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1270), arts. 1, 12; and Order revoked (S.) (1.3.2009) by The Specified Animal Pathogens (Scotland) Order 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/45), arts. 1(1), 12(a)Art. 5(2)(a) substituted (E.) (4.7.2006) by The Specified Animal Pathogens (Amendment) (England) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1506), arts. 1(1), 2(3)Art. 5(2)(c) substituted (E.) (4.7.2006) by The Specified Animal Pathogens (Amendment) (England) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1506), arts. 1(1), 2(4)