The Animals (Post-Import Control) Order 1993

Title, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Animals (Post-Import Control) Order 1992 and shall come into force on 9th January 1993.

(2) In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires,

“the Act” means the Animal Health Act 1981;

“disinfect” means disinfect with a disinfectant approved by the Minister;

“Divisional Veterinary Officer” means a veterinary inspector appointed as such by the Minister.

(3) In this Order any reference to a Community directive, decision or regulation is a reference to that instrument as amended.

Importation of cattle from areas not free from warble fly

2.—(1) Any person importing cattle into Great Britain—

(a) other than from Northern Ireland or from a country or region of a country recognised by the Commission of the European Economic Community as being free from warble fly infestation, and

(b) other than for immediate slaughter shall—

(i) ensure that they are treated with an approved specified warble fly preparation as defined in Council Directive 81/851/EEC on the approxima-tion of the laws of the member States relating to veterinary medicinal products(1) and Council Directive 81/852/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member States relating to analytical, pharmaco-toxicological and clinical standards and protocols in respect of the testing of medicinal veterinary products(2) within 24 hours of the arrival of the cattle at the premises of destination specified on the health certification accompanying the animals, and

(ii) within 5 working days of their arrival at their place of destination, send to the Divisional Veterinary Officer for the area in which the premises of destination are found, a written declaration that the imported animals have been treated as required.

(2) It shall be an offence against the Act for any person knowingly to make a false declaration under paragraph (1) above.

Importation of pigs from areas not free from Aujeszky’s disease

3.—(1) Any person importing pigs into Great Britain from Northern Ireland, from another member State other than Denmark or from a country which is not a member State, in accordance with Article 2 or 4 of Commission Decision of 11th November 1992 concerning additional guarantees relating to Aujeszky’s disease for pigs destined to member States or Regions free of the disease (not yet published in the Official Journal) shall—

(a) take them directly from the point of entry into Great Britain to the premises of destination named in the accompanying health certification;

(b) not allow them to come into contact with pigs which are not part of the same consignment;

(c) ensure that the vehicle is thoroughly cleansed and disinfected before it leaves the premises of destination.

(2) In the case of pigs imported for production, the occupier of the premises of destination shall ensure that, after the arrival of the imported pigs, no pigs are removed from the premises unless directly to a slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter and then only under the authority of, and in accordance with the conditions of, a licence issued by the Divisional Veterinary Officer; and this provision shall remain in force until the premises have been completely de-stocked of pigs and thoroughly cleansed and disinfected.

(3) The operator of a slaughterhouse slaughtering pigs to which this article applies shall keep records (which he shall make available on request to the Divisional Veterinary Officer) of—

(a) the date of slaughter of the pigs;

(b) the number of pigs slaughtered;

(c) their identification numbers or marks, and

(d) their place of origin.

Importation of cattle from Canada

4.—(1) Any person importing cattle into Great Britain from Canada under the provisions of Commission Decision 83/494/EEC concerning animal health conditions and veterinary certification for the importation of domestic animals of the bovine and porcine species from Cananda(3), other than cattle originating from Canadian Health Accredited Herds, shall transport the cattle directly from the point of arrival into Great Britain to isolation premises complying with the conditions in Schedule 1 to this Order and there keep them in isolation for 6 months in accordance with that Schedule.

(2) Both the importer and the occupier of isolation premises shall ensure that the conditions relating to those premises are complied with.

Importation of cattle for meat production from specified countries

5.—(1) Any person importing cattle for meat production into Great Britain from a country referred to in a Decision listed in Schedule 2 to this Order, under a provision specified in that Schedule, shall ensure that they do not come into contact with non-imported cattle either during transportation or after arrival at the premises of destination specified in the accompanying health certification.

(2) The occupier of the premises of destination shall ensure that the imported cattle are not removed from the premises unless directly to a slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter or to a slaughter market and then only under the authority of, and in accordance with the conditions of, a licence issued by the Divisional Veterinary Officer.

Importation of cattle for slaughter from specified countries

6.  Any person importing cattle for slaughter into Great Britain from a country referred to in a Decision listed in Schedule 2 to this Order, under a provision specified in that Schedule, shall transport them directly from the point of arrival in Great Britain to the slaughterhouse named in the health certification accompanying the animals, and shall ensure that they are slaughtered within 72 hours of arrival.

Notices

7.—(1) If any person on whom a duty is placed under this Order fails to comply with such duty, an inspector may, by notice in writing served on him, require him to comply with that obligation, and, if the person fails to comply with it, may take such action as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the notice.

(2) A notice under this article may be subject to conditions and may be varied, suspended or revoked by notice in writing at any time.

Enforcement

8.  This Order shall be enforced by the local authority.

In witness whereof the Official Seal of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is affixed on

L.S.

Derek Andrews

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

7th January 1993.

Hector Monro

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Scottish Office

8th January 1993

David Hunt

Secretary of State for Wales

7th January 1993