{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/diseases-of-animals-northern-ireland-order-1981/article-4A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/diseases-of-animals-northern-ireland-order-1981/article-4A.json",
  "legislation": "nisi/1981/1115",
  "legislation_title": "The Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/diseases-of-animals-northern-ireland-order-1981",
  "path": "article/4A",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "4A",
  "heading": "Biosecurity guidance",
  "text": "(1) The Department shall prepare guidance on the appropriate biosecurity measures to be taken in relation to any disease specified by order of the Department.\n(2) After preparing a draft of the guidance the Department—\n(a) shall send a copy of the draft to such persons and organisations as it thinks are representative of those having an interest in biosecurity measures;\n(b) shall consider any representations made to it about the draft by such persons and organisations;\n(c) may amend the draft accordingly.\n(3) After the Department has proceeded under paragraph (2) it shall publish the guidance in such manner as it thinks appropriate.\n(4) The Department shall from time to time review the guidance and if it thinks it appropriate revise the guidance.\n(5) Subject to paragraph (6), paragraphs (1) to (3) apply to a revision of the guidance as they apply to its preparation.\n(6) If the Department thinks that it is necessary to revise the guidance urgently it may publish revised guidance without proceeding under paragraph (2).\n(7) Biosecurity measures are measures taken to prevent the spread of causative agents of disease.\n(8) In paragraph (7), “causative agent” includes any virus, bacterium and any other organism or infectious substance or particle which may cause or transmit disease.\n(9) It is immaterial that anything done for the purposes of paragraphs (1) to (3) is done before the coming into operation of section 7 of the Diseases of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2010.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Arts. 4A, 4B inserted (12.3.2010) by Diseases of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 1), ss. 7, 22(1); S.R. 2010/70, art. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1981/1115/article/4A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T04:51:34.555607+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}