Explanatory note

This Order extends the list of diseases for which the Minister may cause animals to be slaughtered to include the following diseases in all mammals except man:

• African horse sickness

• Bluetongue

• Brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis

• Contagious agalactia

• Contagious epidydimitis

• Epizootic haemorrhagic virus disease

• Goat pox

• Lumpy Skin Disease

• Peste des Petits Ruminants

• Rift Valley Fever

• Sheep pox

• Teschen Disease

• Vesicular Stomatitis

The inclusion of African horse sickness implements the slaughter requirements of Council Directive 92/35/EEC laying down control rules and measures to combat African horse sickness (OJ No L157, 10.6.92, p.19) (Article 2 of the Order).

It extends the list of notifiable diseases in the Specified Diseases (Notification) Order 1991 to include Brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis, contagious epidydimitis and scrapie, as is required by Council Directive 91/68/EEC on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in ovine and caprine animals (OJ No L46, 19.12.91, p.19) and contagious agalactia as is required by Council Directive 91/68/EEC for Member States wishing to prove freedom from disease; African Horse Sickness as is required by Council Directive 92/35/EEC; and epizootic haemorrhagic virus disease and sheep pox (Article 3).

It extends the definition of “disease” in the Diseases of Animals (Ascertainment of Disease) Order 1985 to include African horse sickness, brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis, contagious agalactia and contagious epidydimitis, as required for the purposes of Council Directives 91/68/EEC and 92/35/EEC (Article 4).

It revokes the provisions in Schedule 2 which concern matters now dealt with by this Order (Article 5).

The Order implements all those provisions in Council Directives 91/68/EEC and 92/35/EEC not already implemented under existing legislation.