The Tuberculosis (England) Order 2006

Title, commencement and application

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Tuberculosis (England) Order 2006 and comes into force—

(a) for the purposes of article 2(1) on 18th February 2006;

(b) for all other purposes on 27th March 2006.

(2) This Order applies in England only.

Revocations

2.—(1) The Tuberculosis (England) Order 2005(1) and the Tuberculosis (England) (Amendment) Order 2006(2) are revoked.

(2) The Tuberculosis (England and Wales) Order 1984(3) and the Tuberculosis (England and Wales) (Amendment) Order 1990(4) are revoked in so far as they apply in England.

Interpretation

3.—(1) In this Order:

“the Act” means the Animal Health Act 1981;

“affected animal” means a cow which is affected with tuberculosis of the udder or is giving tuberculous milk, or a bovine animal which is affected with tuberculous emaciation, or is excreting or discharging tuberculous material, or is affected with a chronic cough, or shows any other clinical sign of tuberculosis;

“bovine animal” means domestic cattle of the genus Bos, buffalo and bison;

“the Divisional Veterinary Manager” means the veterinary inspector appointed by the Secretary of State to receive information about animals or carcases affected or suspected of being affected with specified diseases, for the area in which the animal or carcase is;

“finishing unit” means premises where bovine animals are fattened and from where they are sent to slaughter;

“reactor” means a bovine animal which produces a reaction to a relevant test which is consistent with its being affected with tuberculosis;

“relevant test” means a skin test or other diagnostic test for tuberculosis;

“skin test” means a single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test for tuberculosis;

“suspected animal” means a bovine animal that is suspected of being affected with tuberculosis, and includes a reactor;

“tuberculosis” means infection with Mycobacterium bovis (M.bovis).

Extension of definition of “disease” and power to slaughter on account of tuberculosis

4.  For the purposes of the Act, the definition of “disease” in section 88(1) of the Act is extended so as to include tuberculosis, and section 32 of the Act (power to slaughter animals) shall apply to that disease.

Notification of disease in bovine animals

5.—(1) Any person who suspects that a bovine animal in his possession or under his charge on any premises is or may be an affected animal, shall forthwith—

(a) notify the Divisional Veterinary Manager

(b) pending conclusion of the veterinary inquiry under article 7 and the service of any notice under that article—

(i) detain that animal on the premises where it then is;

(ii) isolate it as far as practicable from other bovine animals; and

(iii) adopt precautions with respect to milk produced by that animal as if a notice under article 7 had already been served.

(2) A veterinary surgeon who suspects that an animal examined by him in the course of his practice is or may be an affected animal, shall forthwith notify the Divisional Veterinary Manager.

Notification of disease in carcases

6.—(1) Any person who—

(a) has in his possession or under his charge on any premises any carcase which is affected with or suspected of being affected with tuberculosis;

(b) in the course of his practice as a veterinary surgeon, examines any such carcase; or

(c) in the course of his duties, inspects any such carcase for any purpose;

shall, immediately he suspects the carcase may be affected with tuberculosis, notify the Divisional Veterinary Manager.

(2) A person who has in his possession or under his charge a carcase to which paragraph (1) applies shall detain it on the premises where it then is until it has been examined by a veterinary inspector.

(3) For the purpose of paragraphs (1) and (2) above, “carcase” means the carcase of any bovine animal or other farmed or pet mammal.

Veterinary enquiry as to the existence of disease

7.—(1) Where a veterinary inspector has reason to believe an affected animal or a suspected animal (other than a reactor) or a carcase of a bovine animal which is affected with or suspected of being affected with tuberculosis is present on any premises, he shall, with all practicable speed, take such steps as may be necessary to establish whether it is in fact an affected or suspected animal or carcase.

(2) For the purpose of carrying out his duties under this article a veterinary inspector may examine any bovine animal or carcase of a bovine animal on the premises and take such samples from any such animal or carcase or carry out such tests as may be required for the purpose of diagnosis.

(3) A veterinary inspector shall serve a notice on the keeper of any bovine animal examined by him which in his opinion is an affected or suspected animal, requiring the keeper to—

(a) detain that animal in accordance with the requirements of the notice and keep it isolated from other bovine animals;

(b) where appropriate take steps to ensure that the milk produced by the animal is not mixed with other milk and is boiled or otherwise sterilized and that any utensil with which such milk has been in contact before it is so treated shall be thoroughly cleansed and scalded with steam or boiling water before the utensil is used again; and

(c) ensure that no bovine animal is moved on to or off the premises or such part of the premises as is specified in the notice except under the authority of a licence issued by an inspector.

Tuberculosis testing

8.—(1) The Secretary of State may by notice served on the keeper of a bovine animal, require any such animal to be tested for tuberculosis by a specified date.

(2) Without prejudice to article 13, where there has been a failure to test an animal in accordance with a notice served under paragraph (1) the Secretary of State may, by notice served on the keeper of that animal, prohibit the movement of bovine animals, or of such bovine animals as are specified in the notice, on to or off the premises or any part of them, except under the authority of a licence issued by an inspector.

(3) The keeper of any bovine animal shall comply with all reasonable requirements of an inspector with a view to—

(a) facilitating the examination of that animal by that inspector;

(b) the application to it of any relevant test for tuberculosis; or

(c) the valuation of the animal in a case where the Secretary of State intends to cause it to be slaughtered under section 32 of the Act in its application to tuberculosis,

and in particular shall arrange at his own expense for the collection, penning and securing of any such animal if so required.

(4) Without prejudice to any proceedings for an offence under this Order, where there has been a failure to test an animal in accordance with a notice issued under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may take or cause to be taken all the steps that may be necessary to facilitate the examination, testing and, if appropriate, the valuation of that animal, (including the removal of that animal from the premises on which it is kept) and the amount of any expenses reasonably incurred by the Secretary of State for the purpose of making good the default shall be recoverable by her from the person in default.

(5) Where a relevant test has been applied to a bovine animal, no person shall move that animal from the premises on which it is kept unless—

(a) the movement is under the authority of a licence issued by a veterinary inspector; or

(b) the results of the test have been read by an inspector with a negative result.

(6) No person shall interfere with the administration or the reading of a relevant test.

Pre-Movement Testing

9.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and to articles 11 and 23, and without prejudice to the requirements of the Artificial Insemination of Cattle (Animal Health) (England and Wales) Regulations 1985(5), no person shall move a bovine animal from any premises unless a skin test has been applied to it no more than 60 days before the date of movement.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the following animals—

(a) bovine animals in herds that are subject to routine testing for tuberculosis less frequently than annually or biennially;

(b) bovine animals that are under 6 weeks of age at the date of the movement;

(c) bovine animals that have been present on the premises for no more than 30 days at the date of the movement;

(d) bovine animals that are subject to routine annual testing for the following public health reasons only—

(i) they are on a farm considered by the Divisional Veterinary Manager to be an open farm;

(ii) they are part of a herd from which the Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate has approved the sale of raw cow’s milk for drinking direct to the end consumer, either by retail sale of bottled milk or as part of an on-farm catering business;

(iii) they are part of a herd from which raw cow’s milk is regularly used for the manufacture of unpasteurised cheese or other unpasteurised dairy products;

(e) bovine animals at an approved semen collection centre.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1) the date of a test shall be the date of injection of tuberculin.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2) (d) (i) of this article, “open farm” means a farm which is open for visits by the public or by sections of the public.

Tuberculosis test records

10.—(1) Where a skin test has been applied to a bovine animal, the Secretary of State shall, as soon as practicable after the results of the test have been read by an inspector, give the keeper of that animal a record in writing of the results of the test.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to animals in respect of which movement is, or remains prohibited under this Order following the test.

(3) The keeper of any animal to which paragraph (1) applies shall—

(a) retain the record of the results of the test for a period of 3 years and 60 days following the date of injection of tuberculin; and

(b) produce such record when requested to do so by an inspector.

Permitted Movements

11.  Notwithstanding article 9, the following movements are permitted—

(a) movements specified in the Schedule; and

(b) any movement under the authority of a licence issued by a veterinary inspector.

Prohibitions

12.—(1) No person shall vaccinate a bovine animal against tuberculosis without the consent in writing of the Secretary of State.

(2) No person shall treat a bovine animal for tuberculosis without the consent in writing of the Secretary of State.

(3) No person shall test a bovine animal for tuberculosis except with the consent in writing of the Secretary of State and a person to whom any such consent is given shall, as soon as he knows the result of the test, report it immediately to the Secretary of State.

Prohibition on movement of animals

13.  Without prejudice to articles 7(3)(c) and 8(2), an inspector may, for the purpose of controlling or preventing the spread of tuberculosis, by notice served on the keeper of bovine animals kept on such premises as are specified in the notice, prohibit the movement of bovine animals, or of such bovine animals as are specified in the notice, on to or off such premises, except under the authority of a licence issued by an inspector.

Notification of intended slaughter of animals

14.—(1) Where the Secretary of State intends to cause a bovine animal to be slaughtered under section 32 of the Act in its application to tuberculosis, an inspector shall serve a notice on the keeper of the animal informing him of the intended slaughter and requiring him to detain the animal pending such slaughter (or pending its surrender and removal for such slaughter) on such part of the premises as is specified in the notice and to isolate it as far as practicable from such other animals as are so specified.

(2) Where a notice has been served under paragraph (1), no person shall move the animal, other than to slaughter, except under the authority of a licence issued by an inspector.

Precautions against spread of infection

15.—(1) Where a veterinary inspector is satisfied that any bovine animal kept on any premises is an affected animal or a reactor, he may, by notice served on the keeper of any such animal, require him—

(a) to treat and store manure or slurry from any place which has been used by any such animal in accordance with the requirements of the notice;

(b) not to spread any manure or to spray or spread any slurry from any place which has been used by any such animal otherwise than in accordance with the requirements of the notice;

(c) not to remove manure, slurry or other animal waste from the premises except under authority of a licence issued by an inspector;

(d) to take such steps as may be reasonably practicable to prevent any bovine animal kept on the premises from infecting any bovine animal kept on any adjoining premises;

(e) to arrange for the isolation of any bovine animal or animals which may be specified in the notice on any specified part or parts of the premises;

(f) to ensure that any part or parts of the premises specified in the notice shall not be used by any bovine animal on the premises, or by such animal or animals as may be specified;

(g) at his own expense, and within such time and in such manner as may be specified in the notice, to cleanse and disinfect such part or parts of the premises as may be specified;

(h) to cleanse and disinfect all utensils and other articles used for or about an animal to which the notice relates within such time and in such manner as may be specified in the notice.

(2) If any person on whom a notice is served under paragraph (1) fails to comply with the requirements of the notice, the Secretary of State may, without prejudice to any proceedings arising out of such default, carry out or cause to be carried out the requirements of the notice, and the amount of any expenses reasonably incurred by the Secretary of State for the purpose of making good the default shall be recoverable by her from the person in default.

Suspected animals in markets, shows and sales

16.  Where a veterinary inspector reasonably believes that a bovine animal on any premises at which a show, exhibition, market, sale or fair is being held, is affected or suspected of being affected with, or has been exposed to infection by tuberculosis, he may—

(a) by notice served on the keeper of the animal, require that animal to be removed from those premises, and (as the keeper of the animal may elect) taken—

(i) to a slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter; or

(ii) back to the premises from which the animal was brought to the show, exhibition, market, sale or fair; or

(iii) to such other premises as may be approved by the veterinary inspector for the purpose;

(b) by notice served on the person in charge of the premises—

(i) require him to ensure that any part or parts of the premises specified in the notice shall not be used by any other bovine animal for such period as may be specified in the notice;

(ii) require him at his own expense, and within such time and in such manner as may be specified in the notice—

(aa) to cleanse and disinfect such part or parts of the premises as may be specified in the notice;

(bb) to dispose of any manure, slurry or other animal waste, straw, litter or other matter that has, or might have, come into contact with such animal.

(2) Where a bovine animal is moved in accordance with paragraph (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) it shall immediately be put into isolation and shall not be moved again except under the authority of a licence issued by an inspector.

Control of infection from other animals

17.—(1) Where a veterinary inspector reasonably believes that an animal kept on any premises is or may be affected with tuberculosis, he may by notice served on the occupier of such premises—

(a) require him to keep the animal under control in such manner as may be specified in the notice or to confine it to such part of the premises as may be specified; and

(b) prohibit the movement of animals on to or off such premises, except under the authority of a licence issued by an inspector.

(2) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) above “animal” means any kind of mammal except man, but not a bovine animal.

Marking of bovine animals

18.—(1) If he is directed to do so by an inspector, the keeper of bovine animals kept on any premises shall mark such animals in the manner required by the inspector.

(2) The inspector may mark bovine animals kept on any premises.

(3) No person shall change or interfere with any mark which has been applied under this article.

Isolation of M. bovis in a laboratory

19.—(1) Where the presence of the organism M. bovis is identified by a laboratory examination of a sample taken from any mammal (other than man) or from the carcase, products or surroundings of any such mammal, the person in charge of that laboratory shall immediately notify the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

(2) The duty to notify the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in paragraph (1) above, shall not apply where M. bovis is present in the sample as a result of its deliberate introduction as part of research involving the use of that organism.

General Provisions as to Notices and Licences

20.—(1) Any licence issued under this Order shall be in writing, may be general or specific, and may be made subject to conditions.

(2) A notice served or licence issued under this Order may be amended, suspended or withdrawn at any time by further notice issued by an inspector.

Production of licences

21.  Where a bovine animal is moved under the authority of a licence (other than a general licence) issued under this Order—

(a) the animal shall be accompanied throughout such movement by the licence; and

(b) the person in charge of the animal being moved under the authority of a licence shall, on demand made under this Order by an inspector, furnish his name and address and shall produce the licence and allow a copy of it to be taken.

Enforcement

22.—(1) This Order shall be enforced by the local authority.

(2) The Secretary of State may direct, in relation to cases of a particular description or any particular case, that an enforcement duty imposed on a local authority under this Order shall be discharged by the Secretary of State and not by the local authority.

Transitional Provisions

23.  Up to and including 28th February 2007 article 9 shall not apply to animals aged below 15 months on the date of the movement.

Savings

24.  Any notice issued, or licence or consent granted under the Tuberculosis (England and Wales) Order 1984 and which has effect at the coming into force of this Order shall remain in force as if it were a notice issued or licence or consent granted under this Order.

Jim Knight

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

17th February 2006