Welfare of Animals (Staging Points) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Offences

6.—(1) The owner or any person running a staging point who—

(a) operates the staging point in contravention of Article 1.2 of the Council Regulation (requiring staging points to comply with the Community criteria for staging points);

(b) unless it has been approved under Article 4.2 of the Council Regulation, uses the staging point, in contravention of Article 4.1 of the Council Regulation (providing for the exclusive use of staging points for the accommodation of animals passing through them);

(c) where it is approved under Annex 4.2 of the Council Regulation, uses it in contravention of paragraphs (a) to (c) of that paragraph;

(d) contravenes Article 4.3 of the Council Regulation (relating to the health status of animals present at staging points);

(e) contravenes Article 5 of the Council Regulation (relating to the operation of staging points);

(f) causes or permits any of the above; or

(g) causes or permits the removal of any animal in contravention of Article 6.1 of the Regulation (requiring an official veterinarian or veterinarian designated by the competent authority to confirm on the route plan that the animal is fit to travel),

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person who contravenes a requirement imposed on him under a notice served on him by an inspector under regulation 4(1) without reasonable excuse shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) Any person who intentionally obstructs an inspector acting in the execution of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence.

(4) Any person who is guilty of an offence under this regulation shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both;

(b) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.