The Disease Control (Interim Measures) (England) Order 2002

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order, which applies to England only, provides for temporary disease control measures.

The Order provides for movement restrictions on animals (articles 3 and 4). In particular, it provides that it shall be unlawful to move any animal unless under the authority of a licence issued by the Minister (article 3(1)(a)) and imposes a 20 day standstill period following the movement of animals on to premises, subject to exemptions for various specified movements (article 3(2) and(3)).

The Order also provides for:

(a) animals arriving at slaughterhouses to be slaughtered within 48 hours of arrival (article 4);

(b) a licence regime for sheep shearing and dipping (article 5);

(c) a licence regime for the ultrasound scanning of sheep (article 6);

(d) a permit system for hunting (article 7);

(e) the administrative arrangements in relation to this Order (article 8);

(f) arrangements on change of occupation of premises (article 9);

(g) general provisions in relation to licences (article 10);

(h) powers of the Minister and local authority inspectors (article 11);

(i) offences under the Order (article 12); and

(j) enforcement of the Order (article 13).

In addition, the definition of “animals” in the Animal Health Act 1981 is extended for the purposes of the application of that Act to this Order so as to cover elephants (article 14).

A regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared for this Order.