Explanatory note

This Order, which applies to Great Britain, prohibits the importation of animal pathogens or carriers of such pathogens without a licence issued by the appropriate Agriculture Minister and in accordance with any conditions of that licence.

The Order contains powers for the seizure of any animal pathogen or carrier imported in contravention of the Order or in breach of any licence conditions, plus powers requiring the detention, treatment or destruction of such pathogens or carriers without compensation. The Order also contains provisions for requiring the cleansing and disinfection of places, vehicles and containers where an animal pathogen or carrier is or has been present in contravention of the provisions of the Order.

The Order requires a person who has in his possession an animal pathogen or carrier which he knows to have been imported in contravention of the provisions of the Order to report the fact (together with all other relevant information) to a veterinary inspector (of the appropriate Agriculture Department) with all practicable speed.

The Order makes the intentional contravention of certain provisions of the Order an indictable offence. A person convicted on indictment is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to an unlimited fine or both.

The Order has no application to any animal pathogen or carrier contained in a medicinal product the importation of which is permitted under the Medicines Act 1968.