The Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Export of Vehicles) (Disinfection of Tyres) (No. 2) Regulations 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement in the United Kingdom Article 10(2) of Commission Decision 2001/740/EC concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom and repealing Decision 2001/356/EC (OJ No. L277, 20.10.2001, p. 30). They revoke and replace the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Export of Vehicles) (Disinfection of Tyres) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/887, as amended) (regulation 9) and extend the time that restrictions are imposed until midnight on 31st December 2001 (regulation 1).

The Regulations impose, for the purpose of preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, an obligation on the managing body of a port or, where there is an operator of a seaport terminal that operator, to ensure that no road vehicle is transported to a destination outside the British Islands through that port or terminal unless the tyres of that vehicle have been treated with an approved disinfectant (regulation 3).

A power is conferred on inspectors to enter land or premises and to carry out examinations for the purpose of ascertaining whether there has been any contravention of the Regulations (regulation 4). Obstruction is an offence (regulation 5) and company directors and others can be punished for an offence by a body corporate (regulation 6).

Breach of the Regulations is punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to £5,000 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both (regulation 7).

The Regulations are enforced in England, Wales and Scotland by the Minister or the local authority and in Northern Ireland by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (regulation 8).