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PART 2U.K.Suspected and confirmed bluetongue

Initial requirements where bluetongue is known or suspectedU.K.

8.—(1) The owner or keeper of any animal or carcase, or any person who examines or inspects any animal or carcase, who knows or suspects that the animal or carcase is infected with bluetongue, must—

(a)immediately notify the [F1Secretary of State]; and

(b)not move any animal or carcase on or off the premises where the animal or carcase known to be or suspected of being diseased is located, except as authorised by an inspector.

(2) A person who analyses a sample taken from any animal or carcase and who finds evidence of antibodies to, or antigens or nucleic acids of, the bluetongue virus or any evidence of vaccination for bluetongue must immediately notify the [F2Secretary of State].

F3(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

[F4Measures at suspected or infected premisesU.K.

9.—(1) If the presence of bluetongue or bluetongue virus is suspected or confirmed at any premises, a veterinary inspector or inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector may serve a notice on the occupier or keeper of those premises, prohibiting the movement of animals or germinal products to or from the premises except in accordance with a licence.

(2) A notice served under paragraph (1) may impose the following requirements on the occupier or keeper—

(a)to make and maintain daily, an inventory of all animals and germinal products on the premises, recording, for each species—

(i)the total number of animals;

(ii)the total number and type of germinal products;

(ii)the number of animals or germinal products affected or suspected of being affected with bluetongue or bluetongue virus;

(iii)the number of animals which die or germinal products which are destroyed;

(iv)the number and destination of any animals or germinal products which are moved from the premises;

(b)to keep a record of the inventory for a minimum period of two years from the date on which notice is served;

(c)to ensure all animals are kept indoors, or in accordance with the instructions of a veterinary inspector or inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector;

(d)to subject animals on the premises to the midge control measures specified in the notice.

(3) A licence granted under paragraph (1) must impose such conditions on the movement of animals or germinal products as a veterinary inspector or a veterinary inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector considers necessary to prevent the spread of bluetongue virus.

(4) A veterinary inspector or inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector may—

(a)serve a notice under paragraph (1) on the occupier of premises or keeper of animals on those premises if the veterinary inspector or inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector suspects that animals on the premises have been exposed to bluetongue virus;

(b)include such of the measures in paragraph (2) as are considered necessary to prevent the spread of bluetongue virus]

Textual Amendments

Temporary control zonesU.K.

10.—(1) If an inspector suspects that the bluetongue virus exists on any premises, the Secretary of State may declare a temporary control zone.

(2) When a temporary control zone has been established in Wales or Scotland which touches the border with England the Secretary of State may establish an associated temporary control zone in England.

(3) The location and size of the temporary control zone is to be such as the Secretary of State considers appropriate to prevent the spread of disease.

(4) Where a temporary control zone has been established, no person may move any animal [F5or germinal product] on to or off premises in the zone except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector [F6or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector].

F7(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Confirmation of bluetongue on premisesU.K.

11.— [F8(1)]  Once a veterinary inspector is satisfied that bluetongue exists on any premises, [F9a veterinary inspector or by an inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector] may serve a notice on the occupier or the keeper of any animals on those premises—

(a)confirming the existence of bluetongue on the premises; F10...

F10(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F11(2) A notice under paragraph (1) may notify the occupier that (notwithstanding regulation 8) it is unnecessary to notify any further suspected cases of bluetongue on the premises to a veterinary inspector.]

Textual Amendments

Measures on confirmation of the bluetongue virusU.K.

12.—(1) If the Chief Veterinary Officer confirms that the bluetongue virus is circulating in England, the Secretary of State, on being satisfied F12... that this is appropriate for disease control purposes, [F13may] declare an area to be a control zone.

(2) The control zone must include the infected premises, and be of such size as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for disease control purposes.

(3) No person may move an animal [F14or germinal product] to or from premises in a control zone [F15except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector] [F16or by an inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector].

Textual Amendments

[F17Power to slaughter animalsU.K.

12A.—(1) Section 32 of the Animal Health Act 1981 (which relates to slaughter and compensation) applies to animals slaughtered under these Regulations.]

Textual Amendments

Restrictions in protection and surveillance zonesU.K.

13.—(1) If the Chief Veterinary Officer confirms that the bluetongue virus is circulating in England the Secretary of State—

(a)[F18may] declare an appropriate area to be a restricted zone;

(b)may, within a restricted zone, declare any area around an infected premises to be a protection zone, and any area beyond such protection zone to be a surveillance zone;

[F19(1A) A surveillance zone declared by the Secretary of State must not contain any land where animals have been vaccinated with live attenuated vaccines against bluetongue within the last 12 months.

(1B) No person may vaccinate against bluetongue using live attenuated vaccine in a surveillance zone declared under this regulation.]

(2) No person may move an animal, [F20or germinal product] out of a restricted zone except under the authority of a licence granted by [F21a veterinary inspector or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector].

(3) No person may move an animal [F22or germinal product] out of a protection [F23or surveillance] zone except under the authority of a licence granted by [F24a veterinary inspector or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector].

[F25(3A) A declaration under paragraph (1) may include a prohibition on the movement of animals or germinal products onto or from premises within a zone, except under the authority of a licence granted by a veterinary inspector or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector]

F26(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) A person is prohibited from moving an animal within a restricted zone if the animal shows clinical signs of bluetongue on the day of transport.

Textual Amendments

[F27Measures where bluetongue virus is present but not circulatingU.K.

13A.—(1) If bluetongue virus is confirmed in an animal or germinal product and the Chief Veterinary Officer considers

(a)that the virus is not circulating; and

(b)there is a disease control benefit from doing so,

(c)the Secretary of State may declare an appropriate area to be a restricted zone.

(2) A restricted zone declared under this regulation must—

(a)be centred on the location of the animal or germinal product in which bluetongue virus is confirmed; and

(b)be of such size as is considered necessary by the Chief Veterinary Officer for the prevention of spread of bluetongue virus.

(3) No person may move an animal or germinal product out of a restricted zone declared under this regulation except under the authority of a licence granted by a veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector.

Textual Amendments

Measures to reduce the risk of incursion or spread of bluetongue virusU.K.

13B.—(1) If, after carrying out a risk assessment, the Secretary of State considers such action necessary to reduce the risk of incursion of bluetongue virus into any part of England or spread of bluetongue virus to animals or germinal products from any source, the Secretary of State may—

(a)declare a bluetongue prevention zone in all or any part of England; and

(b)serve, or require an inspector to serve, a notice on the occupier of premises or keeper of animals at premises where animals or germinal products specified in the notice are kept.

(2) A notice or declaration under paragraph (1) may—

(a)impose such measures as the Secretary of State considers necessary to reduce the risk of incursion of bluetongue virus into any part of England or spread of bluetongue virus;

(b)subject to paragraph (3), restrict the movement of animals or germinal products—

(i)within a bluetongue prevention zone, or

(ii)from premises within the zone to an area which is not in the bluetongue prevention zone.

(3) No person may move animals or germinal products within or from a bluetongue prevention zone except under the authority of a licence granted by a veterinary inspector or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector.

(4) No person may move animals within or from a bluetongue prevention zone if the animal shows clinical signs of bluetongue on or before the day of transport]

Textual Amendments

SlaughterhousesU.K.

14.—(1) The Secretary of State may designate a slaughterhouse for the purpose of slaughtering animals [F28moved in accordance with these Regulations].

(2) If an animal is transported from a restricted zone to a slaughterhouse outside that restricted zone in accordance with a licence, the operator of the slaughterhouse must slaughter the animal within 24 hours of arrival.

F29(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

[F30Other designated premisesU.K.

14A.—(1) The Secretary of State may designate any premises for the purpose of collecting, processing, handling or storing germinal products.

(2) A designation under this regulation may contain such measures as the Secretary of State considers necessary to prevent the spread of bluetongue virus]

Textual Amendments

[F31Movement of animals or other thingsU.K.

15.—(1) Following the movement of an animal or germinal product from [F32premises within a temporary control zone, protection zone, surveillance zone], control zone or restricted zone, a veterinary inspector [F33or inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector] may by notice served on the occupier of premises to which the animal or germinal product has been moved—

(a)prohibit the movement of that animal or germinal product off the premises to which the animal or germinal product has been moved;

(b)prohibit the movement of any other animal or germinal product on to or off such premises;

(c)specify such requirements as are considered by a veterinary inspector to be necessary in order to prevent the spread of disease.

(2) A movement prohibited by a notice under paragraph (1) may be authorised under a licence issued by [F34a veterinary inspector or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector].]

Textual Amendments

Bluetongue outside EnglandU.K.

16.  If bluetongue is confirmed outside England and the Secretary of State considers it appropriate for disease control purposes, the Secretary of State may declare in England a temporary control zone, a control zone, a protection zone, a surveillance zone or a restricted zone (which may be made up of a protection zone and a surveillance zone).