(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations implement, for Northern Ireland, Commission Decision 2007/554/EC concerning protection measures against foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom.
They regulate—
(a)the dispatch of live animals (regulation 3);
(b)the dispatch of meat from bovine, ovine caprine and porcine animals (regulation 4);
(c)the dispatch of meat products, milk and dairy products (regulations 5, 6 and 7);
(d)the dispatch of semen, ova or embryos of animals of the bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine species and other biungulates (regulation 8);
(e)the dispatch of hides and skins (regulation 9); and
(f)the dispatch of various other animal products (regulation 10).
They provide powers for enforcement (regulations 13 and 14 ) and create offences of obstruction and provision of false or misleading information (regulations 15 and 16).
Breach of the Regulations is an offence, punishable—
(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (currently £5,000) or to imprisonment not exceeding three months or to both;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.