The Importation of Animals Order 1977

Provisions to apply in case of emergency

17.—(1) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this order shall render it unlawful—

(a) for an aircraft with imported animals on board to land, or

(b) subject to the authority of a veterinary inspector first having been obtained, for imported animals to be unloaded from a vessel or aircraft,

at any place in Great Britain to which the aircraft or vessel is diverted in the interests of safety, or in the light of other exceptional circumstances, notwithstanding that the animals on board are not authorised to land in Great Britain by an import licence, or are not licensed to land at that place.

(2) Animals on board a vessel or aircraft to which paragraph (1) above applies shall be unloaded therefrom only under the supervision of, and in accordance with any directions given by, a veterinary inspector.

(3) Where animals which have been unloaded from a vessel or aircraft to which paragraph (1) above applies are not authorised by an import licence to be landed in Great Britain—

(a) a veterinary inspector may, by notice in writing served on the person appearing to him to have charge of the animals, impose in respect thereof—

(i) such of the requirements of Article 14(1) above as may be specified in the notice, adapted or modified as the veterinary inspector may consider necessary in the circumstances, and

(ii) such other requirements as the veterinary inspector may consider necessary for the purpose of preventing the introduction or spreading of disease into or within Great Britain, and for protecting the animals from unnecessary suffering; and

(b) the provisions of Article 14(3) above shall apply to those animals as if they were animals to which Article 14(1) above applies.

(4) Where animals which have been unloaded from a vessel or aircraft to which paragraph (1) above applies are licensed to be landed in Great Britain, but not at that place, a veterinary inspector may, by notice in writing served on the person appearing to him to have charge of those animals, impose such conditions with regard to the movement, detention and resting of the animals as he may consider necessary for the purpose of preventing the introduction or spreading of disease into or within Great Britain, and of protecting the animals from unnecessary suffering.

(5) Nothing in Article 16 above shall render it unlawful for a vessel with animals on board to enter a harbour in Great Britain under stress of the weather, or because of other exceptional circumstances, notwithstanding the absence of a licence referred to in that Article; but in any such case, a veterinary inspector may, by notice in writing served on the master of the vessel, impose in respect of the vessel and of the animals on board, such conditions as he may consider necessary for the purpose of preventing the introduction or spreading of disease into or within Great Britain.