The Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Amendment)(Wales)(No.6) Order 2001

Explanatory Note

(This Note is not part of the Order)

This Order further amends the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Order 1983 as it applies in Wales. It replaces the provisions in Part III of the 1983 Order which specify the restrictions that apply in infected areas declared by order of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (“MAFF”).

The provisions set out in Schedule 1 to this Order replace articles 18 to 29 of the 1983 Order (article 2(2)). The new articles deal with the following matters:—

• · restrictions on the movement of animals (article 18);

• · restrictions on breeding (article 19);

• · control of products from slaughterhouses and knacker’s yards (article 20);

• · control of carcases (article 21);

• · disposal of manure, slurry and litter (article 22);

• · control of milk produced in an infected area (article 23);

• · restrictions on the movement of animals on common land (article 24);

• · straying animals (article 25)

• · precautions to be taken by persons clipping or dipping sheep in infected areas (article 25);

• · power of local authority and MAFF inspectors to close footpaths and prevent entry onto premises (article 28);

• · cleansing and disinfection of premises (article 29);

• · prohibition of sporting and recreational activities (article 29A); and

• · restrictions on markets, fairs, shows or other gatherings of animals (article 29B);

The main effect of the amendment is to simplify the provisions previously in force. The principal changes are:

• · introduction of form of licence for the movement of animals to slaughter (Schedule 2, inserting new Schedule 6 into the 1983 Order);

• · introduction of requirement on owners or persons in charge of animals in both infected and controlled areas not to move animals from common land unless instructed to do so by a local authority or MAFF inspector (article 2(3), inserting new article 34A and Schedule 1, inserting new article 24 into the 1983 Order); and

• · introduction of power for local authority or MAFF inspector to detain stray animals and to destroy them if the owners cannot be found (Schedule1 inserting new article 25 into the 1983 Order).

The Order also amends all Declaratory Orders made under Part III of the 1983 Order before this Order comes into force so that the new provisions set out in Schedule 1 to this order apply in those areas instead of the equivalent provisions set out in the Declaratory Orders.

A Regulatory Appraisal has not been prepared for this Order