The Importation of Animals Order 1977

Approval and regulation of approved premises

10.—(1) No premises shall be used for the detention of imported animals in quarantine under the provisions of this order, or for the reception and resting of imported animals under those provisions, unless they have been approved for use for the purpose by a licence issued by the appropriate Minister to the occupier of the premises.

(2) In determining whether a licence should be issued under paragraph (1) above in respect of any premises, the appropriate Minister shall be satisfied that—

(a) in the case of a reception centre, the premises are at or near a port or airport at which imported animals are licensed to be landed; and

(b) in the case of quarantine premises, the premises are either—

(i) at a port or airport at which imported quarantine animals are landed, or

(ii) so located that, having regard to the route and means of transport which will be used in carrying animals to the premises, no significant risk of the introduction or spreading of disease into or within Great Britain is likely to arise from the movement thereto of imported quarantine animals from the port or airport at which they are landed.

(3) A licence under paragraph (1) above—

(a) shall, subject to sub-paragraph (c) below, remain in force for such period as may be specified therein;

(b) may be issued subject to compliance by the occupier of the premises to which the licence relates with such conditions as may be so specified; and

(c) may, by notice in writing served on the occupier of the premises to which the licence relates, be varied or revoked at any time by the appropriate Minister, but without prejudice to anything lawfully done pursuant thereto before such variation or revocation takes effect.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5) below, no person shall enter approved premises, except with the authority of a veterinary inspector, and in accordance with any conditions—

(a) subject to which that authority is given; and

(b) imposed by the licence issued in respect of the approved premises under paragraph (1) above, and for the time being in force.

(5) Nothing in paragraph (4) above shall affect any right of an officer of Customs and Excise, an inspector, a constable or a member of the fire or ambulance service to enter approved premises in the course of his duty; but in exercising any such right, an officer of Customs and Excise, an inspector, a constable or a member of the fire or ambulance service shall, as far as practicable, comply with any requirements imposed by a veterinary inspector for the purpose of preventing the introduction or spreading of disease into or within Great Britain.

(6) No person shall remove or attempt to remove from approved quarantine premises, or cause or permit to be removed therefrom, any carcase, fodder, litter, milk, dung, manure or other thing used in connection with or coming from animals, except with the written authority of a veterinary inspector, and in accordance with any conditions—

(a) subject to which that authority is given; and

(b) imposed by the licence issued in respect of the approved quarantine premises under paragraph (1) above, and for the time being in force.

(7) An inspector may, by notice in writing served on the person in charge of approved premises, require the cleansing and disinfection (to be carried out in such manner as may be specified in the notice, and within such period as may be so specified) of—

(a) the approved premises or any part thereof; or

(b) any apparatus, equipment or thing used in connection with or for or about animals detained at the approved premises;

and it shall be the duty of the person on whom the notice is served to ensure that—

(i) the requirements thereof are properly complied with within the period specified therein, and

(ii) no use is made, in connection with animals, of the approved premises or any part thereof, or any apparatus, equipment or thing, to which the notice relates, until an inspector has indicated in writing that the requirements of the notice have, to his satisfaction, been properly complied with.

(8) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Article, a veterinary inspector may, for the purpose of preventing the introduction or spreading of disease into or within Great Britain, detain, destroy or otherwise deal with any carcase, fodder, litter milk, dung, manure or other thing used in connection with or coming from animals detained at approved premises.