The Exotic Animal Disease (Amendment) (England) Order 2021

Amendments to the Foot and Mouth Disease (England) Order 2006

2.—(1) The Foot and Mouth Disease (England) Order 2006(1) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 2—

(a)after the definition of “the Act” insert—

““alert exercise” means a simulation of an emergency situation designed to test contingency plans;”;

(b)after the definition of “minced meat” insert—

““national accreditation standard” means a standard recognised by the National Accreditation Body for the United Kingdom (UKAS);

“national contingency plan” means the contingency plan for foot-and-mouth disease prepared in relation to England under section 14A(2) of the Act;

“national reference laboratory” means a laboratory responsible for coordinating standards and methods of diagnosis in the United Kingdom in accordance with the OIE manual;”;

(c)after the definition of “occupier” insert—

““OIE manual” means Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals(3);”;

(d)after the definition of “wild birds” insert—

““wild game bird” means a bird which lives freely in the wild and is hunted for human consumption;

“wild game bird product” means any wild game bird carcase or egg, or any other thing, originating or made (whether in whole or in part) from a wild game bird or from a wild game bird carcase, and includes bird by-products from wild birds.”.

(3) After article 20, insert—

“Diagnostic tests

20A.—(1) The national reference laboratory must use the diagnostic tests in the OIE manual which constitute the reference tests for vesicular disease diagnosis.

(2) The use of a test not included in the OIE manual is permitted only when the performance of the test in question demonstrates that it matches or exceeds the sensitivity and specificity parameters set down in—

(a)the OIE manual; or

(b)national accreditation standards.”.

(4) After article 55, insert—

“Contingency plans and exercises

55A.—(1) The Secretary of State must carry out alert exercises in real time in accordance with the national contingency plan, either—

(a)on two occasions within a five-year period following the date of the last confirmed case, the first of which must occur no later than three years after the approval of the plan; or

(b)in the case of a major epizootic disease outbreak which was successfully controlled and eradicated, once during the five-year period following the conclusion of that outbreak.”.

(5) After article 59, insert—

“Biosecurity standards for laboratories handling live foot-and-mouth disease virus

59A.—(1) All laboratories handling live foot-and-mouth disease virus must be authorised by a licence under the Specified Animal Pathogens Order 2008(4) and operate in accordance with the conditions of that licence.

(2) Laboratories handling live foot-and-mouth disease virus must be—

(a)designated by the Secretary of State as the national reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease; or

(b)specifically authorised by the Secretary of State for the handling of live foot-and-mouth disease virus.”.

(6) In Schedule 5, in paragraph 21(2)—

(a)in sub-paragraph (a), after “protection zone;” insert “and”;

(b)omit sub-paragraph (c) and the preceding “and”.