The Swine Vesicular Disease (Scotland) Order 2009

CHAPTER 3 Infection

Infected premises

22.—(1) The Scottish Ministers must, taking account of any results from testing at suspected premises, declare premises to be infected premises if–

(a) swine vesicular disease virus is isolated in a pig or on the premises;

(b) a seropositive pig and, in addition, a pig showing clinical signs of swine vesicular disease are on the premises; or

(c) there is a direct epidemiological link with infected premises and, in addition, a pig on the premises–

(i) is seropositive; or

(ii) shows clinical signs of swine vesicular disease.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may declare premises to be infected premises if–

(a) a pig on the premises shows clinical signs of swine vesicular disease; and

(b) the distance between the premises and other infected premises is such that it is more likely than not that such signs are a result of the presence of the disease.

Primary control measures

23.—(1) The Scottish Ministers must immediately on declaring infected premises–

(a) kill all pigs on the premises; and

(b) remove all carcases, tissue and blood from the premises, and dispose of them in such a manner as to avoid the risk of swine vesicular disease virus spreading.

(2) The occupier of infected premises must, immediately after application of the measures in paragraph (1), disinfect the premises by spraying with disinfectant–

(a) all housing, buildings and equipment to which a pig has had access;

(b) all manure, bedding and foodstuffs used by a pig on the premises;

(c) any other thing which the inspector considers may have been contaminated during slaughter,

and ensure that disinfectant remains on the sprayed surfaces or material for at least 24 hours.

(3) Schedule 1 shall apply, or shall continue to apply, to infected premises.

Secondary control measures

24.—(1) The Scottish Ministers may by notice require the occupier of infected premises to cleanse and disinfect the premises (“disinfection notice”).

(2) The disinfection notice must specify a reasonable period during which the required measures must be completed.

(3) If the occupier does not comply with the disinfection notice then the Scottish Ministers may arrange for it to be complied with, and recover the cost of doing so from the occupier.

Cleansing and disinfection at infected premises

25.—(1) An occupier who is required to cleanse or disinfect infected premises must do so as directed by a veterinary inspector.

(2) In particular, but without prejudice to that generality, a veterinary inspector may direct that–

(a) all manure, bedding and contaminated food are removed from buildings, stacked and sprayed with disinfectant;

(b) slurry is treated by a method suitable for inactivating the virus;

(c) surfaces have grease and other dirt removed by soaking with a degreasing agent, and are pressure washed with water;

(d) sprayed surfaces are re-sprayed with disinfectant;

(e) surfaces are treated (or re-treated) using a flame gun;

(f) damaged floors and walls are repaired.

Release notice

26.—(1) A veterinary inspector must give notice to the occupier that premises are not infected premises (“release notice”) in accordance with this article.

(2) A release notice may not be given until the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that sufficient time has elapsed for the virus to have decayed to the extent that it will no longer infect a pig.

(3) If no pig is to be kept on the premises, a release notice must be issued on completion of the control measures.

(4) If a pig is to be kept on the premises, a release notice must be issued on completion of–

(a) the control measures; and

(b) testing with pigs in accordance with article 27.

(5) If a release notice is issued under paragraph (3) then no pig may be kept on the premises without approval by a veterinary inspector.

(6) In this article and article 27, “control measures” means the measures in article 23(1) and (2), and any measure required under article 24.

Testing with pigs

27.—(1) A pig must not be moved to infected premises until a veterinary inspector confirms by notice to the occupier that the control measures are completed to the satisfaction of the inspector.

(2) A notice under paragraph (1) may not be issued until 28 days after completion of the control measures.

(3) The movement of pigs to the premises must, unless licensed under paragraph (6), start with the introduction of a limited number of pigs (“sentinel pigs”) which have been–

(a) tested at the expense of the occupier; and

(b) found to be negative for the presence of antibodies against swine vesicular disease virus.

(4) The sentinel pigs must be–

(a) placed throughout the premises, as directed by a veterinary inspector;

(b) examined, and sampled for serological testing, by a veterinary inspector 28 days after placement; and

(c) tested for disease.

(5) If sentinel pigs show no signs of swine vesicular disease, or have not developed antibodies after testing under paragraph (4), then a release notice may be issued.

(6) In the case of indoor premises, a veterinary inspector may license the movement of a pig to the infected premises without the introduction of sentinel pigs, but the–

(a) licensed pigs (if more than one) must be introduced over a period of 8 consecutive days;

(b) licensed pig must come from premises outside a protection zone or surveillance zone; and

(c) licensed pig must have been tested at the expense of the licence holder (or applicant, if applicable) within 14 days before movement, and be seronegative.

(7) Where a pig is moved to the premises conform to a licence under paragraph (6)–

(a) a veterinary inspector must examine the pig at least 28 days after it is moved;

(b) a veterinary inspector must sample and carry out a serological test on the pig, or a statistically valid number of pigs (if more than one), at the earliest 28 days after the arrival of the pig (or last pig); and

(c) no pig may leave the premises for a period of 60 days after the arrival of the pig (or last pig).

(8) If licensed pigs show no signs of swine vesicular disease, or have not developed antibodies after testing under paragraph (7), then a release notice may be issued 60 days after the arrival of the pig (or last pig) on the infected premises.