EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Tuberculosis (Wales) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1379 (W. 122)) (“the 2010 Order”) and the Tuberculosis (Wales) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/692 (W. 104)) (“the 2011 Order”). It enables the Welsh Ministers to approve veterinary surgeons to carry out certain diagnostic tests for tuberculosis (relevant tests) on bovine, and non-bovine, animals and to examine and mark such animals. It provides for automatic requirements to apply to a keeper where a relevant test reveals a reactor or inconclusive reactor.

Articles 2(2) and 3(2) introduce into the 2010 and 2011 Orders respectively, a new definition of an “approved veterinary surgeon” and amend the definition of a “relevant test”.

Articles 2(3) and 3(3) provide for the Welsh Ministers to approve veterinary surgeons.

Article 2(4) amends article 12 of the 2010 Order, and article 3(4) amends article 9 of the 2011 Order, by inserting—

(a)

a substituted paragraph (3) which identifies the circumstances when requirements set down in paragraph (3A) apply to the keeper;

(b)

a new paragraph (3B) that provides for an inspector to amend or disapply certain requirements by notice at any time;

(c)

a new paragraph (8) that provides for reporting the results of a non-negative test result to the Welsh Ministers.

Article 2(5) enables an approved veterinary surgeon to carry out pre-movement testing of bovine animals.

Articles 2(7) and 3(6) enables an approved veterinary surgeon to mark, or direct the keeper to mark, bovine and non-bovine animals respectively.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order.