The Specified Diseases (Notification) Order 1996

• Citation: S.I. 1996/2628
• Sections: 11

Section 1 Title and commencement

This Order may be cited as the Specified Diseases (Notification) Order 1996 and shall come into force on 21st October 1996.

Section 2 Interpretation

In this Order—

...

“veterinary surgeon” means a veterinary surgeon (or veterinary practitioner) registered under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 .

Section 3 Notification of specified diseases

(1) For the purposes of the Animal Health Act 1981 in its application to this article—

(a) the definition of “animals” in section 87(1) is hereby extended to comprise ungulates; and

(b) the definition of “disease” in section 88(1) is hereby extended to comprise the diseases listed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this Order.

(2) A person who has in his possession or under his charge an animal or carcase which he knows or reasonably suspects is infected with a disease listed in Schedule 1 to this Order shall give notice of that fact as soon as practicable in accordance with article 5(1) below.

(3) A veterinary surgeon or other person who, in the course of his duties, examines or inspects an animal or carcase which he reasonably believes is infected with a disease listed in Schedule 1 to this Order shall give notice of that fact as soon as practicable in accordance with article 5(1) below.

(4) A person who, following analysis by him of a sample taken from an animal or carcase, reasonably suspects that the animal or carcase is infected with any of the diseases listed in Schedule 1 or Schedule 1A to this Order shall give notice of that fact as soon as practicable in accordance with article 5(1) below.

Section 3A Sharing information and providing advice on porcine epidemic diarrhoea: England

(1) Where a person has given notice to the Secretary of State of suspected porcine epidemic diarrhoea in pigs in England in accordance with article 3, this article applies.

(2) The Secretary of State must, as soon as reasonably practicable, supply the following information to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board—

(a) the contact details of the person in possession of the pigs suspected of being infected with porcine epidemic diarrhoea, and

(b) the location of the suspect premises.

(3) Following receipt of the information mentioned in paragraph (2), the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board may—

(a) provide advice to the person in possession of the pigs about the disease;

(b) advise any pig keeper whose pigs are suspected of having contact with the suspect premises, and other pig keepers in the vicinity of the suspect premises, to take appropriate precautions to protect their pigs from porcine epidemic diarrhoea.

(4) Where a faecal sample tests positive for porcine epidemic diarrhoea, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board may—

(a) advise any pig keeper whose pigs are suspected of having contact with the suspect premises, and other pig keepers in the vicinity of the suspect premises, of the positive test result for porcine epidemic diarrhoea;

(b) disseminate the fact of the positive laboratory test result to those persons appearing to it to be representative of the interests of those in the pig industry as it considers appropriate.

(5) Prior to advising any pig keeper in accordance with paragraph (3)(b) or (4)(a), or disseminating information in accordance with paragraph (4)(b), the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board must inform the person in possession of the affected pigs of its intention to give such advice or disseminate such information (as the case may be).

Section 4 Notification of spongiform encephalopathy

(1) For the purposes of the Animal Health Act 1981 in its application to this article—

(a) the definition of “animals” in section 87(1) is hereby extended to comprise—

(i) any kind of mammal except man, and

(ii) any kind of four-footed beast which is not a mammal;

(b) the definition of “poultry” in section 87(4) is hereby extended to comprise birds of all species; and

(c) the definition of “disease” in section 88(1) is hereby extended to comprise any form of spongiform encephalopathy.

(2) A person who, in the course of a laboratory examination of the carcase of any poultry, or of any animal other than a sheep, goat or animal of the bovine species, reasonably suspects the presence of spongiform encephalopathy, shall—

(a) give notice of that fact as soon as practicable in accordance with article 5(1) below;

(b) retain the sample examined and the remainder of the carcase until its disposal is authorised in writing by a veterinary inspector; and

(c) if required in writing to do so by a veterinary inspector, surrender any samples in whatever form they are to a veterinary inspector.

(3) This article shall not apply in relation to any spongiform encephalopathy which has been deliberately introduced into an animal, a carcase or a sample in a laboratory.

Section 4A Notification of infection with Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans: England

(1) For the purposes of the Animal Health Act 1981 in its application to this article—

(a) the definition of “animals” in section 87(1) of the Act is extended to include relevant amphibians;

(b) the definition of “disease” in section 88(1) of the Act is extended to include infection with Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans .

(2) A person who—

(a) has in his possession or under his charge a relevant amphibian, and

(b) knows, or reasonably suspects, that the relevant amphibian is infected with Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans ,

must give notice of that knowledge or suspicion as soon as practicable.

(3) A veterinary surgeon or other person who, in the course of his duties—

(a) examines or inspects a relevant amphibian, and

(b) knows or reasonably suspects that the relevant amphibian is infected with Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans,

must give notice of that knowledge or suspicion as soon as practicable.

(4) A person who—

(a) analyses a sample taken from a relevant amphibian, and

(b) knows or reasonably suspects that the sample taken from the relevant amphibian is infected with Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans,

must give notice of that knowledge or suspicion as soon as practicable.

(5) In paragraphs (2) to (4), “relevant amphibian”—

(a) means an amphibian of the group “Caudata”; and

(b) includes the carcase of any such amphibian.

(6) This article applies in relation to England only.

Section 4B Notification of Ebola virus: England

(1) For the purposes of the Animal Health Act 1981 in its application to this article—

(a) the definition of “animals” in section 87(1) of the Act is extended to include relevant primates;

(b) the definition of “disease” in section 88(1) of the Act is extended to include infection with Ebola virus.

(2) A person who—

(a) has a relevant primate in his possession or under his charge, and

(b) knows or reasonably suspects that the relevant primate is infected with Ebola virus,

must give notice of this knowledge or suspicion as soon as practicable.

(3) A veterinary surgeon or other person who, in the course of his duties—

(a) examines or inspects a relevant primate, and

(b) knows or reasonably suspects that the relevant primate is infected with Ebola virus,

must give notice of this knowledge or suspicion as soon as practicable.

(4) A person who, in the course of his duties—

(a) analyses a sample taken from a relevant primate, and

(b) knows or reasonably suspects that the sample taken from the relevant primate is infected with Ebola virus,

must give notice of this knowledge or suspicion as soon as practicable.

(5) In paragraphs (2) to (4)—

(a) “relevant primate” means any kind of primate except man, and;

(b) includes the carcase or any part of the carcase of a primate.

(6) This article applies in relation to England only.

Section 5 Notice

(1) A notice under this Order shall be given to—

(a) the Secretary of State ;

(b) an inspector; or

(c) a constable of the police area in which the animal or carcase is situated.

(2) An inspector (other than a veterinary inspector) or a constable who receives notice under this Order shall immediately inform a veterinary inspector of the facts notified.

(3) Sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph (1) do not apply in the case of notice given under article 4A or 4B.

Section 6 Offences

Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, contravenes or fails to comply with article 3, 4, 4A or 4B of this Order shall be guilty of an offence against the Animal Health Act 1981.

Section 7 Enforcement

This Order shall be enforced by the local authority.

Section 8 Revocations

The instruments in Schedule 2 of this Order are hereby revoked to the extent set out in Column 3 of that Schedule.