The Diseases of Poultry Order 1994

Title, commencement and purpose

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Diseases of Poultry Order 1994 and shall come into force on 1st January 1995.

(2) The purpose of this Order is to give effect to Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza(1) and Council Directive 92/66/EEC of 14 July 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of Newcastle disease(2).

Extension of definition of “poultry” and “disease” and application of Order

2.—(1) For the purposes of the Animal Health Act 1981 in its application to this Order—

(a) the definition of “poultry” in section 87(4) of that Act is hereby extended to include all birds, and

(b) the definition of “disease” in section 88(3) of that Act is hereby extended to include paramyxovirus 1 in pigeons and restricted so as to exclude the diseases mentioned in paragraph (b) of section 88(3) of that Act.

(2) This Order applies to all birds kept in captivity including pigeons kept for racing purposes.

Interpretation

3.—(1) In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires,

“carcase” means the carcase of poultry and includes part of a carcase;

“Chief Veterinary Officer” means the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Ministry;

“disease” means paramyxovirus 1 in pigeons, avian influenza and Newcastle disease;

“disinfect” means disinfect with a disinfectant approved under the Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) Order 1978(3) for the purposes of this Order;

“Divisional Veterinary Officer” means the veterinary inspector appointed for the time being by the Minister to receive information about diseased or suspected poultry or carcases in the area in which such poultry or carcases are;

“holding” means a holding used for the rearing or keeping of breeding or productive poultry;

“premises” includes any place; and

“racing pigeon” means any pigeon transported or intended for transport from its pigeon house (that is, any installation used for keeping or breeding racing pigeons) to be released so that it may freely fly back to its pigeon house or to any other destination.

(2) In articles 5(2)(a), 7, 10(1) and (2) and 11(1), unless the context otherwise requires, “poultry” means domestic fowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea fowls, quails, pigeons, pheasants and partridges reared or kept in captivity for breeding, the production of meat or eggs for consumption or for restocking supplies of game.

(3) Any notice or licence served or issued under this Order or under a declaratory Order made under article 7 below shall be in writing and may be the subject of conditions and may be amended, suspended or revoked by notice in writing at any time.

Notification procedures and precautions to be taken where the presence of disease is suspected

4.—(1) A person who has in his possession or under his charge, or who examines or inspects, any poultry or carcase having, or suspected of having, a disease shall immediately inform the Divisional Veterinary Officer.

(2) A person who, following analysis by him of a sample taken from any poultry or carcase, reasonably suspects the presence of a disease in the sample shall immediately inform the Divisional Veterinary Officer.

Restrictions on movement of poultry

5.—(1) If an inspector is aware of notification given under article 4 above or has other reasonable grounds for suspecting that a disease exists or has existed on any premises, he shall, by notice served on the occupier or person in charge of the premises impose the restrictions and requirements contained in Part I of Schedule 1 to this Order.

(2) Upon the presence of the disease being confirmed by the Chief Veterinary Officer or by a person authorised by him, a veterinary inspector—

(a) in the case of poultry as defined in article 3(2) above, shall, and

(b) in the case of racing pigeons or other captive birds, may

by notice served on the occupier or person in charge of the premises, impose in addition the restrictions and requirements contained in Part II of Schedule 1 to this Order.

(3) The person upon whom a notice under this article has been served shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the notice is complied with unless he is authorised by licence issued by a veterinary inspector to do any thing which would otherwise be a breach of this Order.

(4) If any person fails to comply with any restriction or requirement imposed by a notice served under this article, an inspector or other officer of the Minister or an inspector of the local authority may, without prejudice to any proceedings for an offence arising out of such contravention or default, seize or cause to be seized anything which has been moved in contravention of the notice and detain it at such place as he shall consider appropriate until the notice is withdrawn, or as the case may be, take such other action as may be necessary so as to ensure that any restriction or requirement imposed by the notice is complied with or carried out.

(5) A person failing to comply with a notice under this article shall be liable for any costs incurred under paragraph (4) above.

(6) Until such time as a notice under this article is served, a person who has in his possession or under his charge poultry suspected of having a disease shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the restrictions and requirements contained in Part I of Schedule 1 to this Order are complied with.

Veterinary inquiry as to the existence of disease

6.—(1) In order to ascertain whether or not a disease exists or has existed on any premises, a veterinary inspector shall carry out such inquiries, examinations and tests and take such samples (including live poultry and carcases), as are necessary for that purpose and in order to establish—

(a) the length of time the disease has existed on the premises,

(b) the possible origin of the disease on the premises,

(c) which premises may have been exposed to contamination by the disease from the premises under enquiry, and

(d) the extent to which a disease has been carried to or from the premises under enquiry.

(2) Collection of samples and laboratory testing shall be carried out in accordance with Annex III of Council Directive 92/40/EEC (in relation to avian influenza) and Annex III of Council Directive 92/66/EEC (in relation to Newcastle disease and paramyxovirus in pigeons).

(3) A veterinary inspector may mark, or cause to be marked, for identification purposes any poultry, carcase or other thing in relation to which any of the powers under paragraph (1) above has been exercised.

(4) The occupier or person in charge of the premises or any person in his employment shall render such reasonable assistance to a veterinary inspector as he may require for the purpose of facilitating the exercise of his powers under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) above.

Declaration of infected area

7.—(1) Upon the presence in any area of a disease in poultry (as defined in article 3(2) above) being confirmed by the Chief Veterinary Officer or by a person authorised by him, the Minister shall, by declaratory Order, declare the area to be an infected area.

(2) Upon the presence in any area of a disease in captive birds (other than poultry as defined in article 3(2) above) being confirmed by the Chief Veterinary Officer or by a person authorised by him and upon the Minister being satisfied that the presence of that disease in captive birds constitutes a serious risk to other poultry, the Minister shall, by declaratory Order, declare the area to be an infected area.

(3) An area shall remain an infected area until such date as may be specified in the declaratory Order, or, if none, until the declaratory Order is withdrawn.

(4) Any premises which are partly inside and partly outside an infected area shall be deemed to be wholly inside that area.

(5) The declaratory Order may apply generally or in relation to specified species.

(6) The declaratory Order shall provide for the division of the infected area into protection and surveillance zones, the protection zone being based on a minimum radius of three kilometres, itself contained in a surveillance zone based on a minimum radius of ten kilometres, based on the centre of the premises the subject of a notice under article 5 above, or such lesser radia as the Minister may declare.

(7) When the declaratory Order is made, the provisions of Schedule 2 to this Order shall apply in the area unless the declaratory Order specifies otherwise or unless an inspector authorises by licence under this Order anything which would otherwise be a breach of this Order.

Vaccination areas

8.—(1) Upon an Order being made under article 7 above, the Minister may, by notice published in such manner as he thinks fit, require the vaccination of any species of poultry in such territorial area and for such period as he thinks fit and it shall be the duty of every owner and every person in charge of poultry in that area to comply with that notice.

(2) The provisions of Schedule 3 shall have effect in relation to vaccination upon the publication of a notice under paragraph (1) above.

Racing pigeons

9.—(1) An organiser of a show or race which takes place wholly or partly in Great Britain shall ensure that all racing pigeons entered for the race or show have been vaccinated against paramyxovirus 1 in pigeons.

(2) Every person who owns or keeps racing pigeons shall keep a record of every race or show for which he enters his pigeons.

Disinfection

10.—(1) The person in charge of premises on which poultry (as defined in article 3(2) above) or racing pigeons are or have been exposed for sale or exhibited shall thoroughly cleanse and disinfect those premises, their fittings and any receptacle used for the exposure or exhibition of such poultry as soon as practicable after use and in any event before they are used again.

(2) The person in charge of any receptacle in which poultry (as defined in article 3(2) above) or racing pigeons are to be carried shall thoroughly cleanse and disinfect the receptacle as soon as practicable after any such use and in any event before the receptacle is used again.

(3) An inspector may, by notice in writing served on the person in charge of any premises or vehicle on or in which any poultry are or have been, require that person on whom the notice is served to cleanse and disinfect the premises or vehicle and any fittings or receptacle in such manner as he requires and prohibit the movement into the premises or vehicle of poultry until the cleansing and disinfection has been completed to the satisfaction of the inspector.

(4) Without prejudice to the bringing of proceedings under the Animal Health Act 1981, where a notice under this article is not complied with, any person authorised by the Minister or the local authority may enter the premises or vehicle to which the notice relates and carry out the work of cleansing and disinfection required and the cost of such work shall be recoverable from the person on whom the notice was served.

(5) For the purposes of this Order “cleansing” includes the disposal of all litter, droppings and other matter in a manner which does not present a risk of the spread of disease.

Records

11.—(1) Every person who owns or keeps on a single holding any flock of poultry consisting of at least 250 birds of any species shall keep a record in respect of poultry (as defined in article 3(2) above) entering or leaving his premises.

(2) Every person who is engaged in the transport or marketing of any poultry or eggs (including any slaughterer or auctioneer) shall keep a record in respect of all poultry and eggs transported or marketed by him.

(3) The record referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) above shall include in respect of the relevant class of poultry and their eggs—

(a) the date and place they were obtained;

(b) their species and description;

(c) the name and address of the person from whom they were obtained;

(d) the date and manner of disposal;

(e) the place of slaughter, if that was the manner of disposal; and

(f) the name and address of the person to whom the poultry or eggs were transferred (if known), if that was the manner of disposal.

(4) A person who is required by this Order to keep a record shall retain it for at least twelve months from the date of the recorded transportation or marketing.

(5) A person who keeps any record required under this article shall at all reasonable times produce it on demand to an inspector and shall provide him with copies if so required.

Licences

12.  A person moving anything under the authority of a licence issued under this Order shall—

(a) keep the licence with him at all times during the licensed movement;

(b) on demand made by an inspector or other officer of the Minister or by an inspector of local authority, produce the licence and allow a copy or extract to be taken, and

(c) on such demand, furnish his name and address.

Enforcement

13.  The provisions of this Order shall, except where otherwise expressly provided, be executed and enforced by the local authority.

Offence

14.  A person, who, without lawful authority or excuse (proof of which shall lie on him), alters, removes or defaces any mark applied under article 6(3), shall be guilty of an offence against the Animal Health Act 1981.

Revocations and amendments

15.—(1) The Orders referred to in Schedule 4 to this Order are hereby revoked.

(2) In the Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) Order 1978—

(a) in article 2(1) the definition of “Fowl Pest Orders” shall be deleted and the following definition shall be inserted after the definition of dilution rate—

““Diseases of Poultry Order” means the Diseases of Poultry Order 1994;”; and

(b) for the words “Fowl Pest Orders”, wherever they appear, there shall be substituted the words “Diseases of Poultry Order”.

(3) In the Aujeszky’s Disease Order 1983(4) in article 9(1) rule 4, article 13(1) and the Schedule Form A rule 4 for the words “Fowl Pest orders” there shall be substituted the words “Diseases of Poultry Order”.

(4) In the Schedule to the Diseases of Animals (Fees for the Testing of Disinfectants) Order 1991(5) in item 5 for the words “Fowl Pest” there shall be substituted the words “Diseases of Poultry”.

Angela Browning

Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

7th December 1994

Hector Monro

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State,

Scottish Office

8th December 1994

Gwilym Jones

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State,

Welsh Office

8th December 1994