The Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974

Control of animals passing through Great Britain

8.—(1) Subject to paragraph (7) below, the provisions of Articles 4(1) and (3), 5, 6 and 7 above shall not apply to an animal landed at a port or airport in Great Britain in circumstances where satisfactory arrangements have previously been made for the exportation of that animal from that port or airport within a period of 48 hours after its landing; and it shall be for the person who purports to land an animal under the foregoing provisions of this paragraph to prove to the satisfaction of an inspector if required so to do that the arrangements referred to in those provisions have been made in respect of that animal.

(2) It shall be the duty of the person for the time being in charge of an animal to which paragraph (1) above applies—

(a) to ensure that the animal is exported from the port or airport within a period of 48 hours after its landing;

(b) subject to sub-paragraph (d) below, to ensure that the animal does not in any circumstances leave the port or airport before it is exported;

(c) in the case of an animal which is at the port or airport for a period not exceeding four hours, to ensure that it is securely confined throughout that period, and kept isolated from any other animal or any contact animal (other than an animal or contact animal with it which it is being transported);

(d) in the case of an animal which is at the port or airport for a period exceeding four hours, to ensure that it is detained throughout that period, and isolated from any other animal or any contact animal (other than an animal or contact animal which with it is being transported) at premises within or in the vicinity of the port or airport which have been approved by the Minister for the temporary accommodation of animals to which this order applies;

(e) to ensure that the animal is only moved during its stay at the port or airport by an authorised carrying agent; and

(f) immediately to report the loss of the animal to an inspector, a police constable or an officer of Customs and Excise.

(3) Subject to paragraph (7) below, the provisions of Articles 4(1), 5, 6 and 7 above shall not apply to an animal landed in Great Britain in compliance with the terms and conditions of a licence previously granted by the Minister authorising the landing of the animal, and its subsequent transit through Great Britain to a port or airport for exportation.

(4) The conditions subject to which a licence referred to in paragraph (3) above shall be granted shall include a condition that the animal to which the licence relates shall only be moved in Great Britain by an authorised carrying agent, and it shall be the duty of the person for the time being in charge of the animal—

(a) to comply with the conditions subject to which the licence was granted;

(b) to ensure that the animal does not come into contact with any other animal or with any contact animal (other than an animal or contact animal with which it has been transported to Great Britain); and

(c) immediately to report the loss of the animal to an inspector, a police constable or an officer of Customs and Excise.

(5) If an animal to which this Article applies is involved while in Great Britain in an incident whereby rabies could be transmitted to a human being, or to another animal or a contact animal (other than an animal or contact animal with which it is permitted to come into contact under the foregoing provisions of this Article), the person for the time being in charge of the animal shall forthwith give notice of the incident to an inspector; and on receipt of such notice, the inspector may, if he considers it expedient so to do, require that the animal shall not leave Great Britain until after it has undergone detention and isolation in quarantine at its owner's expense, at such premises, and for such period (not exceeding six calendar months) and subject to such conditions, as the inspector may direct.

(6) Where an inspector considers that anything connected with an animal to which this Article applies, or connected with the detention, isolation or movement of such an animal, may give rise to the risk of the introduction of rabies into Great Britain, he may by written or oral notice given to the person for the time being in charge of the animal, impose such further conditions with regard to the animal, or with regard to its detention, isolation or movement, as he may consider necessary for the purpose of reducing that risk, and it shall be the duty of the person to whom such notice is given to comply with the requirements thereof.

(7) Where an animal to which the foregoing provisions of this Article apply is not detained and isolated in accordance with those provisions, or is in any other respect the subject of a contravention thereof, that animal shall be deemed to have been illegally landed in Great Britain for the purposes of this order, and the provisions of Articles 13 and 14 below shall accordingly apply thereto.