Examination of animal or bird suspected of disease
Open ↗19.—(1) If the Director‑General or an authorised officer has reason to believe that any animal or bird may be infected with any disease, he or she may subject that animal or bird and any article or substance which has been in contact therewith to an examination.
(2) For the purpose of this section —(a)
the Director‑General or authorised officer may —(i)
seize the animal or bird as well as the whole or any sample of any article or substance which has been in contact therewith and take them to the place of examination; or
(ii)
in writing direct the owner or person in charge of the animal or bird to deliver the animal or bird as well as the whole or any sample of any article or substance which has been in contact therewith to an authorised examiner at a specified place and time; and
(b)
the authorised examiner carrying out the examination may take any substance from the animal or bird or destroy the animal or bird and conduct a post‑mortem examination on its carcase, if that is the appropriate method by which the authorised examiner may, in accordance with accepted veterinary practice, determine whether the animal or bird has been infected with any particular disease.
(3) No compensation is payable in respect of any animal or bird which has been destroyed under subsection (2)(b).
(4) Any person who —(a)
without lawful excuse, fails to comply with any written direction given to the person under subsection (2)(a)(ii); or
(b)
without the permission of the Director‑General or an authorised officer, removes any animal or bird from the place to which it has been delivered under subsection (2)(a)(ii),
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Isolation or destruction of diseased animal or bird
Open ↗20.—(1) The Director‑General or an authorised officer may require the immediate isolation or destruction of any animal or bird if —(a)
the animal or bird is certified by an authorised examiner, upon any examination carried out under section 19, to be infected with disease;
(b)
the Director‑General or authorised officer has other reasonable cause for believing that the animal or bird is infected with disease; or
(c)
the Director‑General or authorised officer has reasonable cause for believing that the animal or bird —(i)
may have been in contact with another animal or bird which is infected with disease;
(ii)
may have been exposed to disease; or
(iii)
may perpetuate any disease.
(2) Any person who, without lawful excuse, refuses or fails to isolate or destroy any animal or bird when required to do so by the Director‑General or an authorised officer under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Compensation for any animal or bird destroyed
Open ↗21.—(1) No compensation is payable in respect of any animal or bird which has been destroyed under section 20.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the Minister may authorise the payment of such sum as the Minister may determine as compensation in respect of any animal or bird which has been destroyed.
Post‑mortem examination
Open ↗22.—(1) The Director‑General or an authorised officer may cause the carcase of any animal or bird to be subject to a post‑mortem examination.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Director‑General or authorised officer may give written directions —(a)
for the carcase, if already buried, to be exhumed for the purpose of a post‑mortem examination; and
(b)
for the carcase to be delivered to an authorised examiner at a specified place and time.
(3) Any person who —(a)
without lawful excuse, fails to comply with any written direction given to the person under subsection (2); or
(b)
without the permission of the Director‑General or an authorised officer, removes the carcase from the place to which it has been delivered under subsection (2)(b),
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Animal or bird exposed to infection
Open ↗23.—(1) If an authorised officer considers that any animal or bird has been exposed to infection to any disease, he or she may give written directions for that animal or bird to be subjected to such treatment as he or she may consider necessary, including vaccine or serum therapy or a combination of such therapy.
(2) Any person who, without lawful excuse, fails to comply with any written direction given to the person under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Disinfection of building
Open ↗24.—(1) An authorised officer may give written directions for —(a)
the disinfection in such manner as he or she may determine of any building in which an infected animal or bird has been found or kept;
(b)
prohibiting the use of any such building until the building has been disinfected in accordance with such directions as may have been given under paragraph (a).
(2) Any person who, without lawful excuse, fails to comply with any written direction given to the person under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Destruction of building
Open ↗25.—(1) If an authorised officer is of the opinion that any building which has been occupied by an infected animal cannot be effectively disinfected, he or she may give written directions, with the approval of the Minister, to the owner or occupier thereof to destroy the building and to burn the materials thereof within such time as may be specified in the direction.
(2) If a written direction given under subsection (1) is not complied with within the time specified in the direction, the authorised officer may cause the building and the materials thereof to be destroyed.
(3) No compensation is payable in respect of any building which has been destroyed by the owner or occupier thereof in compliance with written directions or by an authorised officer under subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be.
(4) Despite subsection (3), the Minister may authorise the payment of such sum as the Minister may determine as compensation in respect of any building mentioned in subsection (3).
(5) Any person who, without lawful excuse, fails to comply with any written direction given to the person under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Disinfection or destruction of articles
Open ↗26.—(1) An authorised officer may give written directions for the disinfection or destruction of any bedding, clothing, harness, fitting, buckets, pails or utensils whatsoever used in connection with any infected animal or bird.
(2) No compensation is payable in respect of any bedding, clothing, harness, fitting, buckets, pails or utensils destroyed under subsection (1).
(3) Any person who, without lawful excuse, fails to comply with any written direction given to the person under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Disinfection of person and clothing
Open ↗27.—(1) An authorised officer may require the disinfection of the body and clothing of any person who has been in contact with or in charge of or attended upon any animal or bird infected with or in the opinion of the authorised officer infected with disease.
(2) Any person who, without lawful excuse, fails to comply with any requirement under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Disinfection of vehicles
Open ↗28.—(1) An authorised officer may require the disinfection of any vehicle or conveyance —(a)
entering or leaving an area declared to be an infected area, under section 35; or
(b)
which has been used in the transport of any animal or bird infected with or in the opinion of the authorised officer infected with disease.
(2) Any person who, without lawful excuse, fails to comply with any requirement under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Disposal of infected animal, bird or carcase
Open ↗29.—(1) A person must not knowingly cast or cause or permit to be cast into any drain, ditch, water channel, street or open space, or otherwise expose —(a)
any animal or bird or the carcase of any animal or bird which is or has been infected with disease; or
(b)
any fodder, litter, dung or thing which has been used in connection with any infected animal or bird.
(2) Any person who acts in contravention of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Owner of diseased or dead animal or bird to report
Open ↗30.—(1) Every owner or person in charge of any animal or bird infected with or reasonably suspected to be infected with disease must —(a)
immediately make a report to an authorised officer or to the nearest police station; and
(b)
at once cause that animal or bird and all other animals or birds which have been in contact with it to be confined and isolated until the arrival of an authorised officer.
(2) Every owner or person in charge of any animal or bird reasonably suspected to have died of disease must immediately report its death to an authorised officer or the nearest police station and, in the case of an animal, the carcase must not be moved without the written permission from the authorised officer.
(3) It is not an offence to bury the carcase of the animal, if no instructions have been received within 24 hours of making the report referred to in subsection (2).
(4) Where the officer in charge of a police station has communicated the contents of a report by telephone to an authorised officer, he or she must as soon as possible transmit the report to the authorised officer.
(5) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to make a report as required under subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(6) Any person who, without reasonable excuse —(a)
fails to cause any animal or bird to be confined and isolated as is required by subsection (1); or
(b)
permits the carcase of an animal or bird to be moved in contravention of subsection (2),
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Application
Open ↗31. Sections 32 to 36 do not apply to dogs and cats.
Disposal of dead animal or bird
Open ↗32.—(1) The owner or person in charge of any animal or bird that has died from disease or has been destroyed by order of an authorised officer must burn or otherwise dispose of the carcase thereof in accordance with the written directions of the authorised officer.
(2) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any written direction given to the person by an authorised officer under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Moving or disposal of diseased or suspected animal or bird
Open ↗33.—(1) A person must not move or dispose of, whether by sale or otherwise, any animal or bird diseased or reasonably suspected of being diseased or of being a contact of any diseased animal or bird or of the carcase of such an animal or bird, or of the milk, dung or blood of such an animal, except with the written consent of an authorised officer.
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Removal of articles from infected premises
Open ↗34.—(1) An authorised officer may give written directions prohibiting the removal of milk, manure, fodder, litter or other articles likely to carry or convey infection, from premises on which there is or recently has been, any animal or bird infected with disease.
(2) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any written direction given to the person under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Infected areas
Open ↗35.—(1) Whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that any disease exists among any animals or birds in any part of Singapore, the Minister may by order declare that part to be an infected area and may in the order —(a)
prohibit, either absolutely or conditionally, the removal of any animal or bird or any specified kind of animal or bird into or out of that area; and
(b)
restrict the movement of persons and vehicles, aircraft and ships into, within or out of that area.
(2) When an area has been declared to be an infected area under subsection (1), the Director‑General or an authorised officer may give the owner or person in charge of any animal or bird in that area such written directions as the Director‑General or authorised officer may consider necessary to control and check the spread of the disease.
(3) Directions issued under subsection (2) may —(a)
regulate the tying‑up, isolation, segregation, movement or slaughter of animals or birds in the infected area; and
(b)
require the taking of any measure as may be specified by the Director‑General or authorised officer.
(4) Any animal or bird allowed to stray within an infected area, in contravention of any written direction given under subsection (2), may —(a)
be destroyed immediately by an authorised officer or any person acting under the authorised officer’s direction; or
(b)
be seized and detained until its forfeiture has been declared under the provisions of this Act.
(5) No compensation is payable in respect of any animal or bird so destroyed or seized under subsection (4).
(6) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any order under subsection (1) or with any written direction under subsection (2) given to the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Special permission
Open ↗36. An authorised officer may grant, subject to such conditions as he or she may impose, written permission to the owner of any animal or bird to remove it into or out of any infected area.
Rabies‑infected areas
Open ↗37.—(1) The Minister may at any time as a precaution against rabies by order declare Singapore or any part thereof to be a rabies‑infected area.
(2) A person must not take any dog out of a rabies‑infected area or out of Singapore when any part thereof is a rabies‑infected area, except in accordance with a written permit issued by an authorised officer.
(3) The owner or person in charge of any dog within a rabies‑infected area must cause the dog to be kept under effective control —(a)
by confining it within an enclosed area from which it would be impossible for the dog to escape;
(b)
by tying it up securely; or
(c)
by leading it with a chain or lead of strong cord or leather properly secured to a collar or harness worn by the dog.
(4) If an authorised officer is satisfied that any dog or class of dogs, whether by reason of prophylactic treatment or otherwise, is immune from infection by rabies, he or she may exempt that dog or class of dogs from the requirements of subsection (3), subject to such conditions as the authorised officer may impose.
(5) Any dog found within a rabies‑infected area which is not under effective control under subsection (3) may be destroyed by any person authorised in writing in that behalf by an authorised officer.
(6) Any person authorised under subsection (5) —(a)
may enter any land, building or premises for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of that subsection;
(b)
must not enter into any dwelling house for that purpose specified under that subsection, except during the day; and
(c)
must, if required, produce and show his or her written authority to the owner, occupier or person for the time being in charge of the land, building or premises.
(7) Any person who acts in contravention of subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(8) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Destruction or detention of animal suspected to be infected with rabies
Open ↗38.—(1) Where an authorised officer reasonably suspects that any animal may be infected with rabies or has been exposed to rabies infection, he or she may either —(a)
cause the animal to be destroyed immediately; or
(b)
give written directions to the owner or person in charge of the animal requiring that owner or person to take it immediately to any animal quarantine station for detention and observation.
(2) If the owner or person in charge of the animal fails to comply with the written directions given under subsection (1), the authorised officer may either cause the animal to be destroyed immediately or take possession of the animal and remove it to an animal quarantine station.
(3) The authorised officer may either destroy the animal in the animal quarantine station or may detain it until he or she is satisfied that it is free from disease.
(4) The authorised officer may take possession of the body of any animal that has died or has been destroyed and which is reasonably suspected to have been infected with rabies and may dispose of it in such manner as he or she may think fit.
(5) No compensation is payable to any person in respect of the destruction of any animal under subsection (1), (2) or (3).
(6) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any written direction given to the person under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(7) In this section, “animal” means any four‑footed beast in captivity or under control.
Detention of any dog that has bitten a person
Open ↗39.—(1) An authorised officer or police officer may give directions requiring the owner or person in charge of any dog that has or is reasonably believed to have bitten any person to produce the dog at such place and time as the officer may determine.
(2) If the owner or person in charge of the dog fails to comply with the directions given to him or her under subsection (1), the authorised officer or police officer may immediately take possession of the dog and remove it to an animal quarantine station.
(3) Any person who, without lawful excuse, fails to comply with the directions given to the person under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.
Anti‑rabies vaccination of dogs
Open ↗40.—(1) The Minister may make an order requiring that all dogs within Singapore or any part thereof specified in the order must be submitted to anti‑rabies vaccination.
(2) Where an order has been made under subsection (1) an authorised officer may specify periods of time within which, and the place at which, dogs or groups of dogs, must be produced for the purpose of such vaccination.
(3) All such arrangements for vaccination of dogs must be published in such manner as the authorised officer may determine.
(4) The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, require that every dog which has been vaccinated in accordance with the order must, after such date as may be specified in the notification, at all times during the continuance in force of the order and within the area to which the order applies, carry upon it a serially numbered badge, mark, tag or other evidence of vaccination.
(5) Any dog within the area after the date specified in the notification made under subsection (4), whether the dog is at large or not, which does not carry the proper evidence of vaccination may be destroyed.
(6) An authorised officer may authorise in writing any person to destroy dogs to give effect to subsection (5).
(7) Any person so authorised may enter any land, building or premises for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of subsection (6).
(8) The person so authorised must not enter into any dwelling for that purpose, except during the hours of daylight and must, if required, produce and show his or her written authority to the owner, occupier or person for the time being in charge of the land, building or premises.
(9) If any person in charge of a dog fails to comply with any order or requirement under subsection (1) or (4), as the case may be, an authorised officer may immediately destroy that dog.
(10) Any owner or person in charge of a dog who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with an order made under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(11) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a requirement contained in a notification made under subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(12) No compensation is payable in respect of any dog that is destroyed under this section.
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
