Slaughterhouses Act 1974

Enforcement and legal proceedings E+W

F1 41(1). Execution and enforcement Part II. E+W

It shall be the duty of every local authority to execute and enforce in their district the provisions of this Part of this Act and of any regulations made under it.

[F2 (2) In particular, every local authority shall, for the purpose of securing the execution of those provisions, make arrangements for the supervision by persons having such qualifications as may be prescribed by regulations under section 38 above of any premises in their district to which regulations under that section apply.

(3) Arrangements under subsection (2) above shall comply with such directions as the Minister may give from time to time.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 41 renumbered as s. 41(1) (27.8.1991) by Welfare of Animals at Slaughter Act 1991 (c. 30, SIF 112), ss. 4(1), 7(2).

F2 S. 41(2)(3) added (27.8.1991) by Welfare of Animals at Slaughter Act 1991 (c. 30, SIF 112), ss. 4(2), 7(2).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 41 power to transfer functions conferred (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 31, 82(2), Sch. 9, paras. 2(1)(e), 4

[41A F3 Codes of practice. E+W

(1) The Minister may from time to time, after consultation with such organisations as appear to him to represent the interests concerned—

(a) prepare and issue codes of practice for the purpose of providing practical guidance in respect of any provision of this Part of this Act or regulations under it; and

(b) revise any such code by revoking, varying, amending or adding to the provisions of the code.

(2) A code prepared in pursuance of this section and any alterations proposed to be made on a revision of such a code shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament, and the Minister shall not issue the code or revised code, as the case may be, until after the end of the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the code or the proposed alterations were so laid.

(3) If, within the period mentioned in subsection (2) above, either House resolves that the code be not issued or the proposed alterations be not made, the Minister shall not issue the code or revised code (without prejudice to his power under that subsection to lay further codes or proposed alterations before Parliament).

(4) For the purposes of subsection (2) above—

(a) where a code or proposed alterations are laid before each House of Parliament on different days, the later day shall be taken to be the day on which the code or the proposed alterations, as the case may be, were laid before both Houses; and

(b) in reckoning any period of 40 days, no account shall be taken of any time during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.

(5) The Minister shall cause any code issued or revised under this section to be printed and distributed, and may make such arrangements as he thinks fit for its distribution, including causing copies of it to be put on sale to the public at such reasonable price as the Minister may determine.

(6) A failure on the part of any person to follow any guidance contained in a code issued under this section shall not of itself render that person liable to proceedings of any kind.

(7) If, in proceedings against any person for an offence consisting of the contravention of any provision of this Part of this Act or of regulations under it, it is shown that, at any material time, he failed to follow any guidance contained in a code issued under this section, being guidance which was relevant to the provision concerned, that failure may be relied on by the prosecution as tending to establish his guilt.]

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 41A inserted (27.8.1991) by Welfare of Animals at Slaughter Act 1991 (c. 30, SIF 112), ss. 5(1), 7(2).

42 Powers of entry. E+W

(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, at any time when business is, or appears to be, in progress, or is usually carried on, in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard, any officer of the Minister, or an officer appointed for the purpose by the local authority within whose district the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard is situate, may enter it for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been any contravention of this Part of this Act or of any regulations made under it.

(2) Any person who obstructs a person in the exercise of his powers under subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding [F4 level 1 on the standard scale].

(3) Subsection (1) above shall not authorise entry into a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard which for the time being is, or is comprised in, an infected place within the meaning of the [F5 Animal Health Act 1981].

Textual Amendments

F4 Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46

F5 Words substituted by Animal Health Act 1981 (c. 22, SIF 4:4), s. 96, Sch. 5 para. 11(e)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 42(1) power to transfer functions conferred (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 31, 82(2), Sch. 9,paras. 2(1)(f), 4

43 Prosecution and punishment of offences. E+W

(1) All offences under this Part of this Act and regulations made under it shall be punishable on summary conviction.

F6 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 43(2)(3) repealed (1.4.1995) by S. I. 1995/731, reg. 28(1), Sch. 13