Article 4a Matters relating to the exercise of powers under this DecisionF1

United Kingdom

(1.)

The powers exercisable by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish Ministers (in relation to Scotland) and the Welsh Ministers (in relation to Wales), under the provisions listed in paragraph 2 may be exercised only where it is necessary or appropriate to do so in the light of an assessment of the risk to animal and human health in the United Kingdom, taking into account—

(a))

whether there are any diseases referred to in Annex A of Council Directive 92/65/EEC, or other exotic animal diseases present in the third country, which might endanger animal health in the United Kingdom;

(b))

whether the third country is capable of guaranteeing the implementation of its legislation, and whether the organisation of its veterinary and inspection services enables the country effectively to undertake or supervise such services;

(c))

whether the veterinary services of the third country are able to provide assurance that health requirements at least equivalent to those laid down in Chapter 2 of Council Directive 92/65/EEC are being complied with;

(d))

any on-the-spot inspections by experts from the United Kingdom undertaken to verify whether the assurances given by the third country regarding the conditions of production and placing on the market can be considered equivalent to those applied in the United Kingdom.

(2.)

The provisions are—

(a))

Article 1a F2(conditions);

(b))

Article 2(a) (specification of third country or part thereof from which semen of the ovine and caprine species may be imported into Great Britain);

(c))

Article 3(a) (specification of third country or part thereof from which ova and embryos of the ovine and caprine species may be imported into Great Britain).

(3.)

Any assessment which is relied upon for the purposes of paragraph 1 must have been approved by the Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers (in relation to Scotland) and the Welsh Ministers (in relation to Wales).

(4.)

Where the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers request that the Secretary of State exercise a power under a provision listed in paragraph 1 the Secretary of State must have regard to that request.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Art. 4a inserted (1.7.2022) by The Import of Animals and Animal Products and Approved Countries (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/735), regs. 1(2), 11(6)
F2: Word in Art. 4a(2)(a) substituted (10.2.2025) by The Official Controls (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/102), regs. 1(1)(b), 36(6)