The Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) Regulations 2011

Action following failure of checks or seizure — animals

23.—(1) If the checks at a border inspection post show that an animal does not satisfy the conditions in the legislation in Schedule 1 relating to that animal, or where such checks reveal an irregularity, the official veterinary surgeon, after consultation with the importer or the importer’s representative, must—

(a) shelter, feed and water and, if necessary, treat the animal;

(b) if necessary, place it in quarantine or isolate it for so long as is necessary to ensure that there is no risk to human or animal health; or

(c) where animal health or welfare requirements so allow redispatch it, within a time limit to be set by the official veterinary surgeon, outside the European Union.

(2) If redispatch is impossible, in particular for welfare reasons, the official veterinary surgeon may arrange for the slaughter of the animal.

(3) If an animal is seized under regulation 19 the enforcement authority must isolate it and, following examination of the animal, either—

(a) release the animal from restriction; or

(b) require the animal to be slaughtered or re-exported outside the European Union.

(4) The importer or the importer’s representative is liable for the costs incurred in these measures but is entitled to the slaughter value of the animal after deduction of these costs.