Animal Health Act 1981

Risk to human health

29 Control of zoonoses

(1) This section shall have effect with a view to reducing the risk to human health from any disease of, or organism carried in, animals ; and the Ministers may by order designate any such disease or organism which in their opinion constitutes such a risk as is mentioned in this subsection.

In this section " disease " is not restricted by its definition in this Act.

(2) Where any disease or organism is for the time being designated under this section, the Ministers may by order—

(a) provide for any provision of this Act which has effect in relation to the disease to have that effect in relation to the disease so designated subject to such modifications as may be specified in the order;

(b) apply any provision of this Act, subject to any modifications so specified, in relation to the presence of the organism in an animal as if the presence of the organism were a disease to which this Act applied.

(3) The Ministers may by order make provision for requiring a person who, in such circumstances as are specified by the order, knows or has reason to suspect that an animal of such description as is specified in the order is or was—

(a) affected with a disease designated under this section, or

(b) a carrier of an organism so designated,

to furnish to such person and in such form and within such period as are specified in the order such information relating to the animal as is so specified.

30 Provisions supplemental to s. 29

(1) If it appears to the appropriate Minister that a person may have information relating to—

(a) an animal affected with a disease designated under section 29 above, or

(b) an animal which is a carrier of an organism so designated,

that Minister may by notice in writing require him to furnish to such person and in such form and within such period as are specified in the notice such information relating to the animal as he possesses and is so specified.

In this section " disease " is not restricted by its definition iu this Act.

(2) Where a veterinary inspector has reason to believe that an animal such as is mentioned in subsection (1) above is or has been on any land he may, on producing if so required evidence of his authority—

(a) enter the land and make such tests and take such samples of any animal, feeding stuff, litter, dung, vessel, pen, vehicle or other thing whatsoever which is on or forms part of the land as he thinks appropriate for the purpose of ascertaining whether such an animal is or has been on the land; and

(b) require the owner or person having charge of any animals on the land to take such reasonable steps as the inspector may specify for the purpose of collecting or restraining them so as to facilitate the exercise in relation to them of the powers conferred on the inspector by paragraph (a) above.

(3) A person is guilty of an offence against this Act who—

(a) fails to comply with a requirement imposed on him by virtue of section 29 and this section ; or

(b) in purported compliance with a requirement to furnish information which is imposed on him by virtue of section 29 and this section, knowingly or recklessly furnishes information which is false in a material particular.