2007 No. 3309 (W.294)

ANIMALS, WALESANIMAL HEALTH

The Bluetongue (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2007

Made

Coming into force

This Order makes provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 F1 and it appears to the Welsh Ministers that it is expedient for the reference to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1266/2007 (on implementing rules for Council Directive 2000/75/EC as regards the control, monitoring, surveillance and restrictions on movements of certain species of susceptible animals in relation to bluetongue F2) to be construed as a reference to that Regulation as amended from time to time.

The Welsh Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 1972 F3 and sections 1, 7(1), 8(1), 15(4), 17(1), 23, 25, 28, 32(2), 34, 35, 36, 83(2) and 88(2) of the Animal Health Act 1981 F4:

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)
F2

OJ No. L 283, 27.10.2007, p. 37.

F3

Paragraph 1A was inserted by section 28 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51).

F4

1981 c. 22. Powers conferred on “the Ministers” and the Secretary of State under the Act were transferred to the National Assembly for Wales by S.I. 1999/672 and S.I. 2004/3044. By virtue of paragraph 30 of Schedule 11 to the Government of Wales 2006, these functions are now exercisable by the Welsh Ministers.

PART 1 Introduction

Title, application and commencementF51

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InterpretationF52

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Extension of the definition of “disease”F53

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ExemptionsF54

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PART 2 Suspected and confirmed bluetongue

Initial requirements where bluetongue is known or suspectedF55

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Suspected or infected premisesF56

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Confirmation of bluetongue on premisesF57

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Powers of veterinary inspectors and officersF58

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Temporary control zonesF59

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Measures on confirmation of the bluetongue virusF510

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Restrictions in protection and surveillance zonesF511

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Premises straddling zonesF512

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Powers of inspectors and officers in control or restricted zonesF513

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Slaughter of animalsF514

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Subsequent movement of animalsF515

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Bluetongue outside WalesF516

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Slaughter of animals17

Section 32 of the Animal Health Act 1981 (which relates to slaughter and compensation) applies to bluetongue.

Declarations of zonesF518

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PART 3 Miscellaneous

SurveillanceF519

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Vaccination against bluetongueF520

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Powers of inspectors in case of defaultF521

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General powers of inspectorsF522

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DamageF523

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LicencesF524

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Licences granted outside WalesF525

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Provision of assistanceF526

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Offences by bodies corporateF527

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EnforcementF528

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RevocationF529

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Rhodri MorganFirst Minister for Wales, one of the Welsh Ministers

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order continues to implement Council Directive 2000/75/EC laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue. It revokes and remakes with changes the Bluetongue Order (Wales) 2007 in order to enforce Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1266/2007.

The changes are that, following confirmation of bluetongue on any premises, a veterinary inspector may serve a notice removing the requirement for notification of further cases, and removing some or all of the restrictions on those premises (article 7). It also corrects an error in the previous Order concerning premises in one or more zones (article 12).

The Order provides that references to the Commission Regulation are references to it as amended from time to time.

Part 2 of the Order provides for the reporting of symptoms of bluetongue and for the establishment of control zones and restricted zones. Unlike in the previous Order, these zones can now be of a size appropriate for the control of bluetongue. It controls the movement of animals from those zones. It also provides for the separation of a restricted zone into a protection zone and a surveillance zone, and controls movement between these zones.

It provides for surveillance for bluetongue (article 19) and prohibits vaccination against bluetongue without the consent of the Welsh Ministers (article 20).

Part 3 makes provision for enforcement.

It is enforced by the local authority.

Failure to comply with this Order is an offence under section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared for this Order.