The Exotic Disease (Amendment) (England) Order 2023

Amendments to the Bluetongue Regulations 2008

5.—(1) The Bluetongue Regulations 2008(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a)in the definition of “animal”, for the words “(and for the purposes” to the end substitute “or a camelid;”;

(b)after the definition of “animal” insert—

““border control post” means a place designated by the competent authority for the performance of official controls under Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products (2);”;

(c)after the definition of “border control post” insert—

““carcase” means the carcase of an animal;”;

(d)after the definition of “control zone” insert—

““germinal product” means the embryo, ovum or semen of an animal;”;

(e)in the definition of “premises” for “place” substitute “any land, building or other place;”;

(f)after the definition of “premises” insert—.

““regulated place” means a slaughterhouse or border control post;”.

(3) In regulation 7 (premises straddling zones)—

(a)in paragraph (4)(c), for “the restricted zone” substitute “the temporary control zone”.

(4) In regulation 9 (suspected or infected premises)—

(a)in sub-paragraph (1)(a) at the end, insert “except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector under paragraph (4)”;

(b)after paragraph (3) insert—

“(4) Movements otherwise prohibited under paragraph (1) may be authorised by a licence issued by a veterinary inspector.”.

(5) In regulation 10 (temporary control zones)—

(a)in paragraph (4) after “animal” insert “or germinal product”;

(b)omit paragraph (5).

(6) In regulation (11) (confirmation of bluetongue on premises)—

(a)the existing text becomes paragraph (1);

(b)omit paragraph (b) and the “and” before it;

(c)after paragraph (1) (as renumbered), insert—

“(2) A notice under paragraph (1) may notify the occupier that (notwithstanding regulation 8) it is unnecessary to notify any further suspected cases of bluetongue on the premises to a veterinary inspector.”.

(7) In regulation (12) (measures on confirmation of the bluetongue virus)—

(a)in paragraph (3)—

(i)after “animal” insert “or germinal product”;

(ii)after “zone” insert “except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector”.

(8) After regulation 12 (measures on confirmation of the bluetongue virus) insert—

“Power to slaughter animals

12A.—(1) Section 32 of the Animal Health Act 1981 (which relates to slaughter and compensation) applies to animals slaughtered under these Regulations.”.

(9) In regulation 13(restrictions in protection and surveillance zones)—

(a)in paragraph (4)—

(i)for “An inspector must” substitute “An inspector may”;

(ii)omit “as amended from time to time”.

(10) In regulation 14 (slaughterhouse), in paragraph (1) for “transported out of a restricted zone” substitute “moved in accordance with these Regulations”.

(11) For regulation 15 (subsequent movement of animals) substitute—

“Movement of animals or other things

15.—(1) Following the movement of an animal or germinal product from a premises within a temporary control zone, control zone or restricted zone, a veterinary inspector may by notice served on the occupier of premises to which the animal or germinal product has been moved—

(a)prohibit the movement of that animal or germinal product off the premises to which the animal or germinal product has been moved;

(b)prohibit the movement of any other animal or germinal product on to or off such premises;

(c)specify such requirements as are considered by a veterinary inspector to be necessary in order to prevent the spread of disease.

(2) A movement prohibited by a notice under paragraph (1) may be authorised under a licence issued by an inspector.”.

(12) In regulation 20 (powers of veterinary inspectors, officers and inspectors) paragraph(5)(a) for “isolate of” substitute “isolate or”.