Animal Health Act 1981

15 Separation and notice

(1) Any person having in his possession or under his charge an animal affected with disease shall—

(a) as far as practicable keep that animal separate from animals not so affected; and

(b) with all practicable speed give notice of the fact of the animal being so affected to a constable of the police force for the police area in which the animal is so affected.

(2) Any person who knows or suspects that an animal (whether in captivity or not) is affected with rabies shall give notice of that fact to a constable unless—

(a) he believes on reasonable grounds that another person has given notice under this section in respect of that animal, or

(b) he is exempted from doing so by an order under section 1 above,

and, if the animal is in his possession or under his charge, shall as far as practicable keep the animal separate from other animals.

(3) The constable to whom notice is given shall forthwith give information of it to such person or authority as the Ministers by order direct.

(4) The Ministers may make such orders as they think fit for prescribing and regulating the notice to be given to or by any person or authority in case of any particular disease or in case of the illness of an animal, and for supplementing or varying for those purposes any of the provisions of subsections (1) to (3) above.

(5) Subsections (1) to (4) above do not have effect in relation to poultry, but the Ministers may by order prescribe and regulate—

(a) the separation of diseased poultry from poultry not affected with disease ; and

(b) the notification of disease in, or illness of, poultry.

(6) The local authority shall pay to a veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner, in respect of every notification of disease made by him to the local authority in pursuance of an order under this Act requiring such a notification, such fee not exceeding 12 ½ p as may be prescribed by the order.

(7) A person is guilty of an offence against this Act who, without lawful authority or excuse, proof of which shall lie on him, fails where required by this Act or by an order of the Minister—

(a) to keep an animal separate so far as practicable; or

(b) to give notice of disease with all practicable speed.