Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004

PART III N.I. TRADE IN THIRD COUNTRY ANIMALS

Application of Part III N.I.

14.  This Part shall apply in relation to –

(a) any animals imported into Northern Ireland from any place outside the European Communities; and

(b) any animals originating outside the European Communities and imported into Northern Ireland from any place inside those Communities.

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 14 in operation at 6.9.2004, see reg. 1

Importation N.I.

15.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person shall not import any animal directly from a place outside the European Communities.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall prevent the import of any animals specified in Schedule 1 to the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order (Northern Ireland) 1977(1) at a place permitted under that Order.

(3) A person shall not import any animal which originated outside the European Communities from a member State, Great Britain, any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man either for transport to a place in the United Kingdom or for re-export to another member State unless –

(a) all the checks required under Council Directive 91/496/EEC have been carried out in relation to those animals at a border inspection post and they are accompanied by the certificate of examination and the authenticated copy of the original health certificate issued at the border inspection post under Article 7(1) of that Directive; or

(b) in the case of animals specified in Schedule 1 to the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order (Northern Ireland) 1977, the conditions of that Order have been complied with.

(4) A person shall not import any animal which originated outside the European Communities from a member State, Great Britain, any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for re-export outside the European Community either directly or indirectly unless such transit has been previously authorised in writing by the Department and the conditions in Article 9 of Council Directive 91/496/EEC have been complied with.

(5) A person shall not import from a member State, Great Britain, any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man any animal to which –

(a) an instrument in Part II of Schedule 4 applies unless it complies with the relevant provisions of that instrument and any additional requirements specified in that part; and

(b) in accordance with the provisions of any additional animal health requirements of legislation regulating imports into Northern Ireland.

(6) If an animal is imported for slaughter, it must be taken directly to a slaughterhouse and slaughtered without delay. If it is not so slaughtered, an inspector may by notice served on the importer, his representative or person in charge of the animal require the animal to be slaughtered within such period and at such place as may be specified in the notice.

(7) In the event of a notice under paragraph (5) not being complied with an inspector may seize or may cause to be seized any animal to which it relates and arrange for the requirements of the notice to be complied with.

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 15 in operation at 6.9.2004, see reg. 1

Illegal imports N.I.

16.—(1) If any animal is imported from outside the European Communities in contravention of regulation 15(1), the Department may, by notice in writing, require the person appearing to it to be in charge of the animal to detain and isolate that animal in accordance with the notice and in that case the following provisions shall have effect.

(2) The Department shall cause to be carried out an examination by a veterinary inspector of the animal to which a notice under paragraph (1) relates and, following that examination, shall by means of a further notice served on the person appearing to it to be in charge of the animal, the consignor or his representative –

(a) require the animal to be brought to the place specified in the notice;

(b) require the animal to be slaughtered or slaughtered and destroyed;

(c) require the animal to be re-despatched outside the territory of the European Communities, where animal health or welfare considerations so permit, within such period as may be specified in the notice; or

(d) revoke the notice given under paragraph (1).

(3) In the event of a notice under paragraphs (1) and (2) not being complied with, an inspector may seize the animal to which it relates or cause it to be seized and arrange for the requirements of the notice to be complied with.

Commencement Information

I3 Reg. 16 in operation at 6.9.2004, see reg. 1

Application of regulations 7 to 13 N.I.

17.  Regulations 7 to 13 shall apply in relation to animals imported into Northern Ireland from any place inside the European Communities, which originated outside those Communities and in respect of which all the checks provided for in Council Directive 91/496/EEC have first been carried out in accordance with that Directive as those regulations apply to animals to which Part II applies.

Commencement Information

I4 Reg. 17 in operation at 6.9.2004, see reg. 1

Arrival at the place of destination N.I.

18.  On its arrival at the place of destination, an animal for breeding and production shall be detained at the premises by the person having control of those premises, and he shall not release it from those premises unless authorised in writing by an authorised officer of the Department.

Commencement Information

I5 Reg. 18 in operation at 6.9.2004, see reg. 1

Post-import controls N.I.

19.—(1) Where a veterinary inspector knows or suspects that –

(a) in the case of any animal, the import conditions of any instrument listed in Schedule 4, any additional requirements specified in relation thereto in that Schedule or any additional animal health legislation regulating the import of such animals into Northern Ireland have not been complied with; or

(b) in the case of any animal there is doubt as to its identity,

he may carry out any veterinary checks on that animal which he deems appropriate.

(2) If the checks carried out under paragraph (1) confirm that import conditions referred to in that paragraph were not complied with in the case of any animal then the provisions of regulation 16 shall apply and, in the case of the exercise of a power to isolate the animal, a veterinary inspector may additionally require the placing in isolation of other animals which have been in contact with the imported animal.

Commencement Information

I6 Reg. 19 in operation at 6.9.2004, see reg. 1

(1)

S.R. 1977 No. 113 as amended by S.R. 1977 No. 256, S.R. 1994 No. 402 and S.R. 2000 No. 10