The Foot-and-Mouth Disease Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Transport, treatment and spreading of dung, manure, slurry and litter produced in a surveillance zone

8.—(1) This paragraph applies to dung, manure, slurry and litter—

(a) from premises in a surveillance zone keeping susceptible animals; or

(b) collected from vehicles carrying susceptible animals from or within a surveillance zone.

(2) A person shall not transport dung, manure or slurry to which this paragraph applies unless such transport complies with sub-paragraphs (3), (5) or (7), and with sub-paragraph (10).

(3) Transport of dung, manure or slurry complies with this sub-paragraph where it is transported to an establishment for treatment to destroy the disease virus and under the authority of a licence granted by the Department.

(4) The occupier of any premises to which dung, manure or slurry is transported by authority of a licence granted under sub-paragraph (3) shall ensure that it is treated in accordance with point 5 of Section II in Part A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 as amended.

(5) Transport and spreading of dung, manure or slurry complies with this sub-paragraph if—

(a) the dung, manure or slurry is for spreading;

(b) the transport is under the authority of a licence granted by an inspector; and

(c) before grant of the licence an inspector has clinically examined all susceptible animals on the premises where it was produced and was satisfied by such examination that they are not suspected of infection.

(6) A person shall not spread dung, manure or slurry to which this paragraph applies unless such spreading is authorised by a licence granted by an inspector and the dung, manure or slurry—

(a) is spread from not more than 1 metre above the ground;

(b) if spread as a liquid, is not discharged by equipment producing a jet or spray unless the discharge point is directed downwards at an angle of not less than 45° from the horizontal; and

(c) is immediately incorporated into the ground.

(7) Transport of dung, manure or slurry complies with this sub-paragraph if—

(a) the dung, manure or slurry is for spreading;

(b) the transport is under the authority of a licence granted by an inspector; and

(c) before grant of the licence an inspector clinically inspected all susceptible animals on the premises where it was produced and was satisfied that they are not suspected of infection.

(8) A person shall not spread dung, manure or slurry transported by authority of a licence granted under sub-paragraph (7) unless such spreading is authorised by a licence granted by an inspector and the dung, manure or slurry is injected into the ground.

(9) Any licence granted under sub-paragraph (6) or (8) shall contain at least the following terms—

(a) designation of the areas within which the dung and manure must be spread;

(b) designation of a distance from other premises where a susceptible animal is kept within which dung, manure or slurry must not be spread.

(10) Transport of dung, manure or slurry complies with this sub-paragraph if it is carried out in a vehicle which is—

(a) constructed and maintained so that there is no leakage of the load during transport; and

(b) cleansed and disinfected in accordance with the directions of an inspector, after loading and before leaving the premises of origin.

(11) After transporting dung or manure under this paragraph, the person in charge of the vehicle shall ensure it is cleansed and disinfected in accordance with the directions of an inspector, after unloading or spreading and before leaving the premises of destination.

(12) The person in charge of a vehicle to be cleansed and disinfected so as to comply with sub-paragraph (10) or under sub-paragraph (11) shall ensure that such cleansing and disinfection is carried out so that—

(a) the exterior (including the wheels and wheel arches) is not marked with mud, dung, manure or similar matter on leaving either premises;

(b) the interior (excluding any driver or passenger compartment) is not so marked on leaving either premises; and

(c) any additional requirements as an inspector directs are complied with.