The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (No. 2) Order 1996

Notification of disease in bovine animals

5.—(1) A person who has in his possession or under his charge an affected or a suspected animal, or the carcase of such an animal, and any veterinary surgeon or other person who, in the course of his duties, examines or inspects any such animal or carcase shall, with all practicable speed, notify the fact to the Divisional Veterinary Manager.

(2) A person who has in his possession or under his charge on any premises an affected or a suspected animal, or the carcase of such an animal, shall detain it on the premises until it has been examined by a veterinary inspector.

(3) A person who, in the course of a laboratory examination of the carcase of an animal, reasonably suspects the presence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, shall—

(a) with all practicable speed, notify the fact to the Divisional Veterinary Manager;

(b) retain the sample examined and the remainder of the carcase until its disposal has been authorised in writing by a veterinary inspector; and

(c) if required in writing to do so by a veterinary inspector, surrender any samples, in whatever form, to such an inspector.

(4) Paragraph (3) above shall not apply to any bovine spongiform encephalopathy which has been introduced deliberately into an animal, a carcase or a sample in a laboratory.