The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is a Department designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 19721 in relation to the common agricultural policy of the European Union2.

This Order makes provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and it appears to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development that it is expedient for references in this Order to Council Directive 2009/158/EC on animal conditions governing intra-Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs3 to be construed as references to those instruments as amended from time to time.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Article 8(1), (2) and (5) of the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 19814 and section 2(2) of, as read with paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to, the European Communities Act 1972 having consulted with bodies which appeared to it to be substantially representative of the interests concerned and with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel.