The Swine Vesicular Disease Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

PART IVSLAUGHTERHOUSES

Controls in a slaughterhouse following notification

27.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a)the Department is notified under regulation 8(1) of a suspect pig or carcase in a slaughterhouse; and

(b)a veterinary inspector considers that further investigation relating to the possible presence of swine vesicular disease is necessary.

(2) The veterinary inspector shall orally or otherwise inform the person reporting the suspect pig or carcase that further investigation is necessary, and paragraph (3) shall apply.

(3) The occupier of the slaughterhouse shall ensure that, unless approved by a veterinary inspector—

(a)no pig may be moved into the slaughterhouse;

(b)any live suspect pig, live pig from the same premises as the suspect pig and any pigs they have had contact with shall be kept alive until slaughtered under regulation 28; and

(c)if any of those pigs have been slaughtered, the carcases and any carcases that they have been in contact with shall be moved to a part of the slaughterhouse where they can be isolated; and

(d)that they are kept there and do not come into contact with other pigs or carcases,

and failure to do so is an offence

(4) Subject to regulation 28 these controls shall continue to apply until a veterinary inspector has confirmed that they shall cease to have effect.

Action following the imposition of controls

28.—(1) After the imposition of the controls following notification of suspicion of swine vesicular disease in a slaughterhouse a veterinary inspector shall immediately examine the suspect pigs or carcases at the slaughterhouse.

(2) If the veterinary inspector is satisfied that swine vesicular disease does not exist in the slaughterhouse the veterinary inspector shall confirm this orally or otherwise and the controls in regulation 27 shall cease to have effect.

(3) A veterinary inspector who suspects that swine vesicular disease exists in the slaughterhouse shall by notice served on the occupier require that—

(a)all live suspect pigs;

(b)live pigs from the same premises as the suspect pigs; and

(c)any pigs with which they have had contact;

are slaughtered separately from other pigs, and the carcases stored separately from carcases of other pigs, and failure to comply with the notice is an offence.

(4) The veterinary inspector shall take samples (the samples may be from pigs and carcases at the slaughterhouse and samples from the premises of origin of the suspect pigs) and test them to establish whether or not swine vesicular disease is present in the slaughterhouse.

(5) If the test results are negative the veterinary inspector shall confirm this by notice served on the occupier and the controls in regulation 27 shall cease to have effect.

(6) A veterinary inspector may revoke the restrictions in regulation 27(3)(a) at any time if the slaughterhouse has been cleansed and disinfected in accordance with a notice served under regulation 24(1) on the occupier by a veterinary inspector.

(7) If the test results confirm the existence of swine vesicular disease virus in the slaughterhouse (whether or not there is evidence of swine vesicular disease on the premises that the pigs have come from)—

(a)the Department shall seize and dispose of the carcases isolated under regulation 27(3)(c); and

(b)the occupier shall ensure that the parts of the slaughterhouse used to store the carcases of the pigs slaughtered under this regulation are not used until the occupier has cleansed and disinfected them to the satisfaction of the veterinary inspector, and failure to comply with this provision is an offence.