2003 No. 1967 (W. 212)
The Animal Gatherings (Wales) Order 2003
Made
Coming into force
The National Assembly for Wales and the Secretary of State, acting jointly in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 1, 7, 8 and 83 of the Animal Health Act 19811, make the following Order:
Title, application and commencement1
This Order is called the Animal Gatherings (Wales) Order 2003; it applies in relation to Wales and comes into force on 1st August 2003.
Interpretation2
In this Order —
“animals” (“anifeiliaid”) means cattle (excluding bison and yak), deer, goats, sheep and pigs;
“animal area” (“ardal i anifeiliaid”) has the meaning given in article 4(3)(c);
“animal gathering” (“crynhoad anifeiliaid”) means an occasion at which animals are brought together for —
- a
a sale, show or exhibition;
- b
onward consignment within Great Britain for further rearing, finishing or slaughter;
- c
inspection to confirm the animals possess specific breed characteristics;
- a
“approved disinfectant” (“diheintydd a gymeradwywyd”) means a disinfectant approved under the Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) Order 19782 at the concentration required under that Order for “general orders”; and
“equipment” (“cyfarpar”) includes pens and hurdles.
Exceptions3
This Order does not apply if —
a
all the animals brought to the gathering are owned by the same person;
b
all the animals come from one set of premises which the National Assembly for Wales has authorised as a sole occupancy group under the Disease Control (Wales) Order 20033; and
c
the animal gathering is to take place on premises owned or occupied by the owner of the animals.
The use of premises for animal gatherings4
1
No person may use premises for an animal gathering unless those premises are licensed for that purpose by a veterinary inspector.
2
A licence under this article —
a
must be in writing;
b
may be amended, suspended or revoked by a notice in writing issued by a veterinary inspector; and
c
may be subject to such conditions as the veterinary inspector considers necessary to control the introduction into or spread of disease within or from the licensed premises.
3
A licence is to specify —
a
the name of the licensee;
b
the premises in which the animal gathering may take place; and
c
the area to which animals may be given access (“the animal area”).
27 day restriction on when an animal gathering can take place5
No person may allow an animal gathering to take place on premises on which animals have been kept until 27 days have passed from the day on which —
a
the last animal left those premises; and
b
after the last animal has left the premises, all equipment to which animals have had access has been cleansed of visible contamination.
Exemption from the 27 day restricted period for premises with a paved animal area6
1
The restriction in article 5 does not apply if the animal area in the licensed premises is paved with cement, concrete, asphalt or other hard, impermeable material that is capable of being effectively cleansed and disinfected, and is cleansed and disinfected and waste is disposed of in accordance with this article before a further animal gathering is held.
2
The cleansing and disinfection —
a
must not begin until all animals have been removed from the part of the animal area being cleansed and disinfected; and
b
must be completed after the last animal has left the licensed premises and before an animal gathering is held on the premises again.
3
All parts of the animal area (including any equipment) must be swept or scraped clean, cleansed by washing and disinfected with an approved disinfectant.
4
The licensee must ensure that all feedingstuffs to which animals have had access, and all bedding, excreta, other material of animal origin and other contaminants derived from animals in the animal area are, as soon as possible and before animals are allowed to enter the licensed premises again —
a
destroyed;
b
treated so as to remove the risk of transmission of disease; or
c
disposed of so that animals do not have access to it.
5
If, following the last occasion on which the animal area was cleansed and disinfected in accordance with this article, it becomes contaminated with animal excreta or other material of animal origin or any contaminant derived from animals, then the animal area or those parts of it that have become so contaminated must be swept or scraped clean and then cleansed by washing and an approved disinfectant applied before any animals are allowed on to the licensed premises again.
Maximum time limits7
1
No animal gathering for the purpose of —
a
a sale or inspection held on premises to which article 6 applies; or
b
an onward consignment licensed under this Order,
may last longer than 48 hours.
2
The 48 hour period begins at midday and ends at midday two days later.
3
The licensee must ensure that —
a
no animal is brought on to the premises before the 48 hour period starts; and
b
every animal is removed from the premises by the end of the 48 hour period.
4
A veterinary inspector who is satisfied that —
a
it is necessary for animal welfare reasons; or
b
the risk of the introduction of disease into the sale and subsequent dissemination is low;
may by notice in writing extend the 48 hour time limit in respect of a sale.
Duties on persons at an animal gathering8
When an animal gathering (other than for a show or exhibition) is taking place, the provisions of the Schedule (requirements at an animal gathering) have effect.
Restrictions following an animal gathering9
1
The provisions of this article apply once the last animal at an animal gathering has left the licensed premises.
2
No person may allow animals on to the licensed premises until all equipment to which animals at the gathering had access has been cleansed of visible contamination.
3
No person may remove from the licensed premises any equipment to which animals at the gathering had access unless —
a
the equipment has been cleansed of visible contamination and a period of 27 days has elapsed since the last animal at the animal gathering has left the licensed premises; or
b
the equipment has been swept or scraped clean, cleansed by washing and disinfected with an approved disinfectant.
Enforcement10
1
This Order is to be enforced by the local authority.
2
The National Assembly for Wales 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 article is to be discharged by the National Assembly for Wales and not by the local authority.
Revocations11
The following are revoked —
a
The Markets, Sales and Lairs Order 19254;
b
The Markets, Sales and Lairs (Amendment) Order 19265;
c
The Markets, Sales and Lairs (Amendment) Order 19276;
d
The Markets, Sales and Lairs (Amendment) Order 19967;
e
The Animal Gatherings (Interim Measures) (Wales) Order 20038.
Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales
SCHEDULERequirements at an animal gathering
Duties on a licensee1
1
The licensee must ensure that any person entering the licensed premises is made aware that the premises are licensed under this Order, whether by means of a system of notices or otherwise.
2
The licensee must provide footbaths containing approved disinfectant at exits from the animal area and at any loading and unloading bay, and facilities on the licensed premises for changing, cleaning and disinfecting clothes and disposing of disposable clothes.
3
The licensee must—
a
ensure that animals are unloaded and re-loaded in the animal area, and
b
ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that animals do not leave the animal area except on a vehicle.
Duties on persons attending the animal gathering2
1
No person shall enter licensed premises wearing outer clothing visibly contaminated with animal excreta or other animal contamination.
2
If a person in the animal area is wearing outer clothing visibly contaminated with animal excreta or other animal contamination, on leaving the animal area that person shall immediately clean the clothing of gross contamination (unless the clothing is to be disposed of) and either—
a
disinfect it;
b
change into clean clothing;
c
dispose of it; or
d
leave the licensed premises.
3
If a person outside the animal area is wearing outer clothing visibly contaminated with animal excreta or other animal contamination, an inspector may serve on that person a notice giving the option of immediately—
a
cleaning the outer clothing,
b
changing into clean clothing,
c
disposing of disposable clothing, or
d
leaving the licensed premises.
Footwear in the animal area3
Any persons leaving the animal area must cleanse and disinfect their footwear in the footbath provided.
Vehicles4
1
No person may bring on to or take from the licensed premises any vehicle or equipment carried with that vehicle that is contaminated with animal excreta.
2
This paragraph does not apply to—
a
any vehicle or equipment contaminated with excreta from animals being carried on the vehicle at the time it is brought on to the licensed premises;
b
any vehicle or equipment contaminated with excreta from animals which have been unloaded from the vehicle on the licensed premises;
c
any vehicle or equipment brought on to the licensed premises solely for cleansing and disinfection, if taken directly to the cleansing and disinfection facilities immediately upon arrival.
(This note is not part of the Order)