Explanatory note

This Order provides for the extension of the definition of disease in the Animal Health Act 1981 to include equine viral arteritis (article 2).

The Order requires notification where a person knows or has reasonable grounds to suppose that a stallion or a mare which has been served either naturally or by way of artificial insemination within the previous fourteen days is or may be diseased and where a person knows or has reasonable grounds to suppose that a stallion is a carrier of the virus of the disease. It also requires notification where a person reasonably supposes that the disease or the virus exists following analysis of samples of serum or semen (article 4).

Certain restrictions and requirements are imposed on stallions in which the disease or the virus exists or is suspected to exist and on their semen (article 5) and the Order provides for a veterinary inquiry as to the existence of disease or the virus, with positive findings in stallions subject to confirmation by the Chief Veterinary Officer (article 6).

The Order also provides that details of any stallion which has been confirmed as being diseased or as carrying the virus, or which is suspected of being diseased or of carrying the virus but in relation to which the veterinary inquiry is postponed, may be published (article 7). Where such details have been published, on finding that the disease or the virus does not, or no longer exists in the stallion, that finding is to be published (article 7).

A Compliance Cost Assessment in relation to this Order has been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament and copies can be obtained from the Animal Health (Disease Control) Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Government Buildings, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 7NF.