Part 1Slaughter

1 Foot-and-mouth disease

1

In the Animal Health Act 1981 (c. 22) (in this Act referred to as the 1981 Act) paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 (power to cause slaughter of animals because of foot-and-mouth disease) is amended as follows.

2

In sub-paragraph (1) omit “and” at the end of paragraph (a), and after paragraph (b) insert—

c

any animals the Secretary of State thinks should be slaughtered with a view to preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

3

After sub-paragraph (1) insert—

1A

The Secretary of State may exercise the power under sub-paragraph (1)(c) whether or not animals—

a

are affected with foot-and-mouth disease or suspected of being so affected;

b

are or have been in contact with animals so affected;

c

have been exposed to the infection of foot-and-mouth disease;

d

have been treated with vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease.