The Exotic Disease (Amendment) (England) Order 2024

Amendments to the Bluetongue Regulations 2008

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

(2) In regulation 2(2), omit “by notice”.

(3) For regulation 9 (suspected or infected premises) substitute—

“Measures at suspected or infected premises

9.—(1) If the presence of bluetongue or bluetongue virus is suspected or confirmed at any premises, a veterinary inspector or inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector may serve a notice on the occupier or keeper of those premises, prohibiting the movement of animals or germinal products to or from the premises except in accordance with a licence.

(2) A notice served under paragraph (1) may impose the following requirements on the occupier or keeper—

(a)to make and maintain daily, an inventory of all animals and germinal products on the premises, recording, for each species—

(i)the total number of animals;

(ii)the total number and type of germinal products;

(ii)the number of animals or germinal products affected or suspected of being affected with bluetongue or bluetongue virus;

(iii)the number of animals which die or germinal products which are destroyed;

(iv)the number and destination of any animals or germinal products which are moved from the premises;

(b)to keep a record of the inventory for a minimum period of two years from the date on which notice is served;

(c)to ensure all animals are kept indoors, or in accordance with the instructions of a veterinary inspector or inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector;

(d)to subject animals on the premises to the midge control measures specified in the notice.

(3) A licence granted under paragraph (1) must impose such conditions on the movement of animals or germinal products as a veterinary inspector or a veterinary inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector considers necessary to prevent the spread of bluetongue virus.

(4) A veterinary inspector or inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector may—

(a)serve a notice under paragraph (1) on the occupier of premises or keeper of animals on those premises if the veterinary inspector or inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector suspects that animals on the premises have been exposed to bluetongue virus;

(b)include such of the measures in paragraph (2) as are considered necessary to prevent the spread of bluetongue virus”.

(4) In regulation 10(4), after “veterinary inspector”, insert “or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector”.

(5) In regulation 11(1), for “the veterinary inspector”, substitute “a veterinary inspector or by an inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector”.

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

(a)in paragraph (1)—

(i)omit “on epidemiological, geographical, ecological or meteorological grounds”;

(ii)for “must” substitute “may”.

(b)in paragraph (3), after “veterinary inspector” insert “or by an inspector acting under the instructions of a veterinary inspector”.

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

(a)in paragraph (1)(a), for “must” substitute “may”;

(b)in paragraph (2)—

(i)for “semen, ovum or embryo” substitute “or germinal product”;

(ii)for “an inspector” substitute “a veterinary inspector or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector”;

(c)in paragraph (3)—

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

(ii)after “protection”, insert “or surveillance”;

(iii)for “an inspector” substitute “a veterinary inspector or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector”;

(d)after paragraph (3), insert—

“(3A) A declaration under paragraph (1) may include a prohibition on the movement of animals or germinal products onto or from premises within a zone, except under the authority of a licence granted by a veterinary inspector or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector”;

(e)omit paragraph (4).

(8) After regulation 13, insert—

“Measures where bluetongue virus is present but not circulating

13A.—(1) If bluetongue virus is confirmed in an animal or germinal product and the Chief Veterinary Officer considers

(a)that the virus is not circulating; and

(b)there is a disease control benefit from doing so,

(c)the Secretary of State may declare an appropriate area to be a restricted zone.

(2) A restricted zone declared under this regulation must—

(a)be centred on the location of the animal or germinal product in which bluetongue virus is confirmed; and

(b)be of such size as is considered necessary by the Chief Veterinary Officer for the prevention of spread of bluetongue virus.

(3) No person may move an animal or germinal product out of a restricted zone declared under this regulation except under the authority of a licence granted by a veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector.

Measures to reduce the risk of incursion or spread of bluetongue virus

13B.—(1) If, after carrying out a risk assessment, the Secretary of State considers such action necessary to reduce the risk of incursion of bluetongue virus into any part of England or spread of bluetongue virus to animals or germinal products from any source, the Secretary of State may—

(a)declare a bluetongue prevention zone in all or any part of England; and

(b)serve, or require an inspector to serve, a notice on the occupier of premises or keeper of animals at premises where animals or germinal products specified in the notice are kept.

(2) A notice or declaration under paragraph (1) may—

(a)impose such measures as the Secretary of State considers necessary to reduce the risk of incursion of bluetongue virus into any part of England or spread of bluetongue virus;

(b)subject to paragraph (3), restrict the movement of animals or germinal products—

(i)within a bluetongue prevention zone, or

(ii)from premises within the zone to an area which is not in the bluetongue prevention zone.

(3) No person may move animals or germinal products within or from a bluetongue prevention zone except under the authority of a licence granted by a veterinary inspector or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector.

(4) No person may move animals within or from a bluetongue prevention zone if the animal shows clinical signs of bluetongue on or before the day of transport”.

(9) In regulation 14 (slaughterhouses), omit paragraph (3).

(10) After regulation 14, insert—

“Other designated premises

14A.—(1) The Secretary of State may designate any premises for the purpose of collecting, processing, handling or storing germinal products.

(2) A designation under this regulation may contain such measures as the Secretary of State considers necessary to prevent the spread of bluetongue virus”.

(11) In regulation 15 (movement of animals or other things)—

(a)in paragraph (1)—

(i)for “a premises within a temporary control zone” substitute “premises within a temporary control zone, protection zone, surveillance zone”;

(ii)after “a veterinary inspector” insert “or inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector”;

(b)in paragraph (2), for “an inspector” substitute “a veterinary inspector or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector”.

(12) In regulation 19(3), after “veterinary inspector” insert “or by an inspector or officer of the Secretary of State acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector”.

(13) Omit regulation 30 (review of these regulations).