The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order revokes and re-makes with amendments the Bovine Spongiform Encephalo pathy Order 1991, as amended. The Order continues to provide for—

(a) the compulsory notification of BSE in bovine animals (article 5);

(b) the investigation, examination, testing and sampling and marking of bovine animals and their carcases for this purpose (article 6(1) and (2));

(c) the imposition of requirements in respect of affected or suspected animals or carcases by service of a notice in Form A (article 6);

(d) the prohibition on movement of other bovine animals by notice in writing (article 7);

(e) the cleansing and disinfection of premises and equipment (article 8);

(f) the application of section 32 of the Animal Health Act 1981 (slaughter of animals) (article 9);

(g) the seizure of carcases for the purpose of preventing the spread of the disease and the provision of compensation (article 10);

(h) the prohibition of the sale, supply and use of milk from affected or suspected animals (article 11);

(i) the prohibition (subject to certain exemptions) of the sale, supply and use of feeding stuffs containing mammalian protein or mammalian meat and bone meal (articles 12 and 13);

(j) sampling of protein or feeding stuffs (article 17), production of licences (article 18), offences (article 19) and enforcement (article 20); and

(k) exemptions to certain prohibitions for research purposes (articles 11(2)(b), 12(2) and 13(5)).

The Order introduces new provisions which—

(l) prohibit the possession of mammalian meat and bone meal or any product containing mammalian meat and bone meal on any premises where livestock feeding stuffs are produced or stored, or where livestock is kept, subject to an exception for possession for research purposes and to various defences (article 13);

(m) provide for the cleansing and disinfection of places, vehicles and equipment where mammalian meat and bonemeal and MBM products have been produced, stored or used (article 14);

(n) provide for the disposal of mammalian meat and bonemeal and MBM products by persons for whom possession of such products is illegal, and provide for the recall of any feeding stuff for livestock found to have been illegally sold (article 15); and

(o) require persons consigning, transporting and using mammalian meat and bone meal to keep records (article 16).

A Compliance Cost Assessment for this Order has been prepared and placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from the Bovine Products Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2JA.