The Swine Vesicular Disease Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

CHAPTER 4N.I.Removal of measures in Schedule 1 from infected premises

Removal of restrictions from infected premisesN.I.

22.—(1) Unless otherwise provided for in these Regulations, a veterinary inspector may not serve a notice on the occupier revoking the measures in Schedule 1 on infected premises until the Department is satisfied that sufficient time has elapsed for the virus to have decayed naturally to the extent that it will no longer infect pigs.

(2) A veterinary inspector may serve a notice on the occupier revoking the measures in Schedule 1 before that time in parts of the premises capable of being cleansed and disinfected if—

(a)the premises have been cleansed and disinfected to the satisfaction of the veterinary inspector, and

(b)the premises have been tested for the existence of swine vesicular disease virus using sentinel pigs with negative results.

Cleansing and disinfectionN.I.

23.  Cleansing and disinfection shall be carried out in such a way as to minimise the risk of spread or survival of swine vesicular disease virus.

Method of cleansing and disinfectionN.I.

24.—(1) The cleansing and disinfection shall be carried out in accordance with a notice served on the occupier by a veterinary inspector.

(2) The notice shall if necessary include requirements for—

(a)the treatment of manure, bedding and feed so as to inactivate the virus;

(b)the removal of grease and other dirt from all surfaces by soaking with a degreasing agent followed by washing the surfaces with water ;

(c)spraying all surfaces with disinfectant (or treating them with a flame gun) and repeating after 14 days; and

(d)repairing damaged floors and walls.

Testing with sentinel pigsN.I.

25.—(1) After cleansing and disinfection have been carried out in accordance with the notice, a veterinary inspector shall certify in writing that the cleansing and disinfection has been carried out in a satisfactory manner.

(2) The premises shall then be tested for the swine vesicular disease virus using sentinel pigs.

(3) The number of sentinel pigs shall be limited to the minimum necessary for the test.

(4) Sentinel pigs may not be introduced until at least 28 days after the certificate has been issued, and shall be introduced in accordance with a licence granted by the Department.

(5) The sentinel pigs shall have been tested at the expense of the occupier before being brought on to the premises and found to be negative for the presence of antibodies against swine vesicular disease virus.

(6) The veterinary inspector shall ensure that the sentinel pigs are placed throughout the premises in sufficient numbers such that it is reasonable to expect any residual virus to affect one or more of the sentinel pigs.

(7) The pigs shall be examined 28 days after having been placed on the premises, and sampled for serological testing by a veterinary inspector.

(8) If none of the sentinel pigs shows clinical signs of swine vesicular disease or has developed antibodies against swine vesicular disease virus, the veterinary inspector shall remove restrictions from those parts of the premises.

(9) As an alternative to introducing the minimum number of sentinel pigs, the Department may grant a licence to introduce an unlimited number of sentinel pigs, but in this case—

(a)paragraphs (4), (5) and (6) apply in relation to the introduction of the sentinel pigs;

(b)all the sentinel pigs shall arrive within a period of 8 days;

(c)they shall come from premises situated outside a protection zone or surveillance zone;

(d)a veterinary inspector shall clinically examine all the sentinel pigs, and sample and carry out a serological test on a statistically valid number of sentinel pigs, at the earliest 28 days after the arrival of the last sentinel pig; and

(e)even if none of the sentinel pigs shows clinical signs of swine vesicular disease a veterinary inspector may not revoke the restrictions until 60 days after the arrival of the last sentinel pig.

Secondary cleansing and disinfectionN.I.

26.—(1) Irrespective of whether or not pigs are to be brought on to the premises again, the Department may serve a notice on an occupier requiring that secondary cleansing and disinfection of the premises is carried out as specified in the notice, and failure to comply with the notice is an offence.

(2) The notice shall specify a reasonable period within which the secondary cleansing and disinfection shall be carried out.

(3) If the notice is not complied with the Department may arrange for the notice to be complied with.