The African Horse Sickness Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013

Imposing measures on suspicion of disease

8.—(1) This regulation applies where an inspector suspects that a horse or carcase that is or has been infected with African horse sickness virus is or has been on any premises (whether following a notification under regulation 5(1) or otherwise).

(2) The inspector may serve a notice on the occupier designating those premises as suspect premises, at which point the measures in Schedule 1 have effect(1).

(3) Such a notice served in relation to contact premises shall specify that the premises are contact premises.

(4) A notice served under paragraph (2) may require the occupier to erect and maintain such signs on the premises as may be required by a veterinary inspector.

(5) Where a notice has been served under paragraph (2) a veterinary inspector shall—

(a) as far as is reasonably practicable assess places likely to facilitate the survival of the vectors, or to accommodate them, and the practicality of using appropriate vector control measures in such places;

(b) begin an epidemiological inquiry to try to establish at least—

(i) the length of time that African horse sickness virus may have existed in horses on the premises;

(ii) the origin of that virus;

(iii) the identification of other premises on which there are horses which may have become infected;

(iv) the presence and distribution of vectors;

(v) the movement of any horse to or from the premises or any carcases removed from them; and

(vi) the possibility that non-captive horses may be involved in the spread of the virus,

and continue the inquiry until these matters have been established so far as is practicable or the possible presence of African horse sickness virus has been discounted.

(1)

See also the power of the Department under regulation 16 to declare a temporary control zone.