The Coypus (Prohibition on Keeping) Order 1987

Statutory Instruments

1987 No. 2195

ANIMALS

DESTRUCTIVE ANIMALS

The Coypus (Prohibition on Keeping) Order 1987

Approved by both Houses of Parliament

Made

26th November 1987

Laid before Parliament

30th November 1987

Coming into force

1st January 1988

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, being satisfied with respect to the non-indigenous animals which are the subject of this Order that by reason of their destructive habits it is desirable to prohibit the keeping of them and to destroy any which may be at large, acting jointly, in exercise of powers conferred by section 10(1) of the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932(1) and now vested in them(2) and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Order:

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Coypus (Prohibition on Keeping) Order 1987 and shall come into force on 1st January 1988.

Interpretation

2.  In this Order “coypu” means the animal of the species Myocastor coypus.

Prohibition on keeping of coypus

3.  The keeping within Great Britain of any coypu is prohibited.

In Witness whereof the Official Seal of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is hereunto affixed on 22nd November 1987.

L.S.

John MacGregor

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Sanderson of Bowden

Minister of State, Scottish Office

22nd November 1987

Peter Walker

Secretary of State for Wales

26th November 1987

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order prohibits the keeping of coypus within Great Britain. The Order replaces the Coypus (Keeping) Order 1982 (S.I. 1982/1744) which prohibits the keeping of coypus within Great Britain except under licence and which ceases to have effect on 1st January 1988.

In consequence of the making of this Order the provisions of the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932 will continue to apply to coypus. Those provisions include—

(a) a requirement that occupiers of land who know that coypus, not being coypus kept under a licence, are to be found there shall give notice of the fact to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the case of land in England, or to the Secretary of State for Scotland in the case of land in Scotland or to the Secretary of State for Wales in the case of land in Wales (section 5(2)); and

(b) a saving where a special licence is granted in respect of coypus kept for exhibition, scientific research or other exceptional purposes (section 8).

(1)

1932 c. 12.

(2)

In the case of the Secretary of State for Wales by virtue of S.I. 1969/388.