Article 5 Measures while the suspicion of the disease is being investigatedI1

Northern Ireland

(1)

Where a veterinary inspector suspects that the disease may exist or may within the previous 56 days have existed on any holding or other place or in any means of transport (whether or not notification has been given under Article 4), he shall –

(a)

serve a notice on the occupier of a holding or other place or the person in charge of that means of transport imposing such restrictions and requirements set out in paragraphs (2) and (3) as are relevant; and

(b)

carry out an investigation to confirm or rule out the presence of the disease.

(2)

The restrictions and requirements referred to paragraph (1) are as follows –

(a)

the person on whom the notice is served (“the responsible person”) shall co-operate with any veterinary inspector in the preparation of a record by category of –

(i)

the number of pigs;

(ii)

the number of live pigs which appear to be free of disease;

(iii)

the number of live pigs which appear to have the disease;

(iv)

the number of pigs which have died in the 56 days prior to the date of the notice;

on the holding or other place or in the means of transport, as the case may be.

(b)

where the notice relates to a holding or other place, the occupier shall ensure that the record is kept up to date to take account of pigs that are born or die on the holding or other place during the period that restrictions under this Article are in force. The record shall also record the number of pigs which fall sick having been previously apparently free of disease.

(c)

the responsible person shall produce the record to a veterinary inspector on request.

(d)

where the notice relates to a holding or other place –

(i)

the occupier shall ensure that all pigs on the holding or place are kept in their living quarters or some other place specified in the notice;

(ii)

a person shall not move any pigs onto or off the holding or place except in accordance with a licence issued by an inspector and the occupier shall ensure that pigs are unable to stray from or on to the holding or place;

(iii)

a person shall not move any meat, carcase or pig product or the semen, ovum or embryo of pigs, or any animal feed, utensil, material or waste or other thing likely to transmit disease from the holding or place, except in accordance with a licence issued by an inspector;

(iv)

a person shall not come on to or leave the holding or place except in accordance with a licence issued by an inspector;

(v)

a person shall not move any vehicle onto or off the holding or place except in accordance with a licence issued by an inspector;

(vi)

the occupier shall ensure that, in accordance with any instructions given by a veterinary inspector, appropriate means of disinfection are placed at the entrances and exits of those parts of the holding or place in which pigs are being kept and of the holding or place itself.

(3)

Where a veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector has grounds for suspecting the presence of vectors on a particular holding or other place in consequence of their location, geographical situation or contacts with another holding or other place where the disease is known or suspected to exist (in Northern Ireland or elsewhere), he may serve a notice of the grounds on the occupier of the particular holding or other place, and thereupon a veterinary inspector or an inspector acting in accordance with a veterinary inspector’s direction may enter the particular holding or other place.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: Art. 5 in operation at 5.12.2003, see art. 1