4.—(1) It is an offence for a person to undertake the introduction of an alien species or the translocation of a locally absent species except under, and in accordance with the conditions of, a permit.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to –
(a)the movement of an Annex IV species; or
(b)the translocation of a locally absent species within Northern Ireland or to Northern Ireland from another part of the United Kingdom if the Department has served notice under regulation 8(2) on the person undertaking the translocation that a permit is not required for the translocation.
5.—(1) A permit shall be in writing and may be granted subject to such conditions as the Department considers appropriate.
(2) A permit shall specify -
(a)the unique reference number assigned to the permit;
(b)the species to which it applies;
(c)the aquaculture facility into which the movement is permitted;
(d)the duration of the permit;
(e)the monitoring period where the Department considers that a monitoring period longer than the period of two years laid down in Article 18.1 of Council Regulation 708/2007 is required.
(3) If the Department refuses to grant a permit or grants it subject to conditions, it shall, by notice served on the applicant,
(a)give the reasons for its decision; and
(b)inform the applicant of the right of appeal under regulation 20.
6.—(1) This regulation applies in relation to—
(a)the proposed movement of an Annex IV species;
(b)the proposed translocation of a locally absent species within Northern Ireland or to Northern Ireland from another part of the United Kingdom.
(2) Subject to paragraph (5), a person proposing to undertake a movement or translocation shall give notice of the proposed movement or translocation to the Department.
(3) An application for an authorisation to operate an aquaculture production business under the Aquatic Animal Health Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (1) in respect of an Annex IV species or a locally absent species or an application for the amendment of such an authorisation in so far as it relates to the proposed movement of an Annex IV species or the translocation of a locally absent species is notice for the purposes of paragraph (2).
(4) A person who gives, or by virtue of paragraph (3) is deemed to have given, notice under paragraph (2) in respect of the proposed movement of an Annex IV species shall not undertake the movement except under, and in accordance with the conditions of, a notice served by the Department under regulation 7(2)(b) or (3)(b).
(5) Paragraph (2) does not apply to subsequent movements of the same Annex IV species or translocations of the same locally absent species as notified to the Department under paragraph (2) which are undertaken by the same person to the same aquaculture facility if –
(a)the movements have previously been permitted by the Department by notice served under regulation 7(2)(b) or (3)(b); or
(b)the Department has previously served notice under regulation 8(2) that a permit is not required for the translocations.
(6) It is an offence for a person to contravene paragraph (2) or (4).
7.—(1) This regulation applies where the Department has received notice of the proposed movement of an Annex IV species under regulation 6(2).
(2) The Department shall serve notice on the person proposing to undertake the movement —
(a)prohibiting the movement;
(b)permitting the movement, and any subsequent movement of the same species undertaken by that person to the same aquaculture facility, subject to any conditions specified in the notice; or
(c)requiring the person, at their own cost, to submit an environmental risk assessment carried out in accordance with Article 9(1) of Council Regulation 708/2007.
(3) After considering any environmental risk assessment required under paragraph (2)(c), the Department shall serve notice on the person proposing to undertake the movement—
(a)prohibiting the movement; or
(b)permitting the movement, and any subsequent movement of the same species undertaken by that person to the same aquaculture facility, subject to any conditions specified in the notice.
(4) A notice served under paragraph (2)(b) or (3)(b) shall specify —
(a)the unique reference number assigned to the notice;
(b)the species to which it applies;
(c)the aquaculture facility into which the movement is permitted; and
(d)the duration of the notice.
(5) A notice served under paragraph (2)(a) or (b) or (3) shall –
(a)give the reasons for the decision; and
(b)inform the person on whom the notice is served of the right of appeal under regulation 20.
8.—(1) This regulation applies where the Department has received notice of the proposed translocation of a locally absent species under regulation 6(2).
(2) The Department shall serve notice on the person proposing to undertake the translocation informing the person whether, for the purposes of Article 2(2) of Council Regulation 708/2007, there are grounds for foreseeing environmental threats due to the proposed translocation.
(3) A notice served under paragraph (2) shall —
(a)state whether a permit is required for the translocation; and
(b)if a permit is required –
(i)give the reasons for the decision; and
(ii)inform the person on whom the notice is served of the right of appeal under regulation 20.
9. An environmental risk assessment carried out under Article 9(1) of Council Regulation 708/2007 shall be produced at the applicant’s own cost.
10.—(1) A contingency plan drawn up under Article 17 of Council Regulation 708/2007 shall be —
(a)produced at the applicant’s own cost; and
(b)approved by the Department in writing.
(2) It is an offence for a person to fail to implement an approved contingency plan immediately upon the occurrence of an event specified in the plan.
11.—(1) This regulation applies where monitoring is required under Article 18 or 22 of Council Regulation 708/2007.
(2) The applicant shall submit to the Department for approval a programme detailing how the monitoring will be carried out.
(3) A monitoring programme shall be approved by the Department in writing.
(4) An approved monitoring programme shall be carried out, at the applicant’s own cost,—
(a)by the applicant; or
(b)where the Department determines that the applicant does not have the expertise, by a person nominated by the applicant and approved in writing by the Department.
S.R. 2009 No. 129, as amended by S.R. 2011 No. 118