S.I. No. 578 of 2007

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE) (RESTRICTION ON IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM) REGULATIONS 2007

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

1. Citation

2. Interpretation

3. Live animals

4. Meat

5. Meat products

6. Milk

7. Dairy products

8. Semen, ova and embryos

9. Hides and skins

10. Specific animal products

11. Equidae

12. Possession of certain animals etc.

13. Forgery

14. Obstruction etc.

15. Authorized officers

16. Search warrant

17. Assistance to authorized officer

18. Offences

19. Prosecution of summary offences

20. Penalties

21. Revocations

S.I. No. 578 of 2007

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE) (RESTRICTION ON IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM) REGULATIONS 2007

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

�Iris Oifigi�il� of 14th August, 2007.

I, MARY COUGHLAN, Minister for Agriculture and Food, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972 (No. 27 of 1972), for the purpose of giving effect to Commission Decision No. 2007/552/EC of 6 August 2007 ¹ , hereby make the following Regulations-

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Foot and Mouth Disease) (Restriction on imports from the United Kingdom) Regulations 2007.

Interpretation

2. (1) In these Regulations-

�animal� means an animal of the bovine, ovine, porcine or caprine species or other biungulate;

�authorized officer� means an authorized officer within the meaning of section 17A (inserted by section 2 of the Diseases of Animals (Amendment) Act 2001 (No. 3 of 2001)) of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (No. 6 of 1966);

�Commission Decision� means Commission Decision No. 2007/552/EC of 6 August 2007;

�meat product� includes the treated bladder, stomach or intestine of an animal;

�Minister� means Minister for Agriculture and Food.

(2) A word or expression that is used in these Regulations and that is also used in the Commission Decision has, in these Regulations, the same meaning as in the Commission Decision.

Live animals

3. (1) A person shall not bring into the State a live animal, either directly or through another place-

(a) from Great Britain, or

(b) that has been in Great Britain since 15 July 2007.

(2) A person shall not bring a live animal into the State from Northern Ireland unless advance notice of at least three days has been given to the Minister and unless the animal is accompanied by a certificate-

(a) in the case of a bovine or porcine animal, in the form mentioned in Article 1(4) of the Commission Decision bearing the declaration set out in that provision that relates to the animal,

(b) in the case of an ovine or caprine animal, in the form mentioned in Article 1(4) of the Commission Decision bearing the declaration set out in that provision that relates to the animal, or

(c) in the case of a biungulate to which subparagraphs (a) and (b) do not refer, in the form mentioned in Article 1(5) of the Commission Decision bearing the declaration set out in that provision that relates to the biungulate.

(3) A person shall not consign a live animal to Great Britain.

Meat

4. (1) A person shall not bring a carcase or meat (including fresh meat, minced meat, mechanically separated meat or a meat preparation) of an animal into the State, either directly or through another place, from Great Britain-

(a) unless the carcase or meat complies with Article 2(4) or (7) of the Commission Decision, and

(b) the carcase or meat is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 2(8) of the Commission Decision that relates to the carcase or meat.

(2) A person shall not bring a carcase or meat (including fresh meat, minced meat, mechanically separated meat or a meat preparation) of an animal from Northern Ireland into the State unless it is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 2(8) of the Commission Decision that relates to the carcase or meat.

Meat products

5. (1) A person shall not bring a meat product derived from an animal into the State either directly or through another place from Great Britain unless the meat product complies with Article 3(2) of the Commission Decision and-

(a) is accompanied by an official certificate that conforms with Article 3(4) of the Commission Decision,

(b) in the case of a meat product that complies with Article 3(2) and (5) of the Commission Decision, is accompanied by a commercial document endorsed in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Commission Decision, or

(c) in the case of a meat product that has been heat treated in accordance with Article 3(2)(b) in a hermetically sealed container that is shelf stable, is accompanied by a commercial document stating the heat treatment applied.

(2) A person shall not bring a meat product derived from an animal from Northern Ireland into the State unless the meat product complies with Article 3(2) of the Commission Decision, and-

(a) is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 3(4) of the Commission Decision that relates to the meat product,

(b) in the case of a meat product that complies with Article 3(2) and (5) of the Commission Decision and has been processed in an establishment referred to in Article 3(5) of the Commission Decision, is accompanied by a commercial document endorsed in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Commission Decision, or

(c) in the case of a meat product that has been heat treated in accordance with Article 3(2)(b) in a hermetically sealed container that is shelf stable, is accompanied by a commercial document stating the heat treatment applied.

Milk

6. (1) A person shall not bring milk into the State from Great Britain either directly or through another place unless the milk complies with Article 4(2)(a) or (b) and-

(a) is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 4(4) of the Commission Decision that relates to the milk,

(b) in the case of milk that complies with Article 4(2)(a) or (b) of the Commission Decision and has been processed in an establishment referred to in Article 4(5) of the Commission Decision, is accompanied by a commercial document endorsed in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Commission Decision, or

(c) in the case of milk that has been heat treated in accordance with Article 4(2)(a) or (b) in a hermetically sealed container that is shelf stable, is accompanied by a commercial document stating the heat treatment applied.

(2) A person shall not bring milk from Northern Ireland into the State unless the milk complies with Article 4(2) or (3) of the Commission Decision, and-

(a) is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 4(4) of the Commission Decision that relates to the milk,

(b) in the case of milk that complies with Article 4(2)(a) or (b) of the Commission Decision and has been processed in an establishment referred to in Article 4(5) of the Commission Decision, is accompanied by a commercial document endorsed in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Commission Decision, or

(c) in the case of a meat product that has been heat treated in accordance with Article 4(2)(a) or (b) in a hermetically sealed container that is shelf stable, is accompanied by a commercial document stating the heat treatment applied.

Dairy products

7. (1) A person shall not bring a dairy product into the State from Great Britain either directly or through another place, unless the dairy product complies with Article 5(2), (3) or (4) of the Commission Decision-

(a) is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 5(5) of the Commission Decision that relates to the dairy product,

(b) in the case of a dairy product that complies with Article 5(2)(a) or (b), (3) or (4) of the Commission Decision and has been processed in an establishment referred to in Article 5(6) of the Commission Decision, it is accompanied by a commercial document endorsed in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Commission Decision, or

(c) in the case of a dairy product that complies with Article 5(2)(a) or (b), (3) or (4) of the Commission Decision in a hermetically sealed container that is shelf stable, is accompanied by a commercial document stating the heat treatment applied.

(2) A person shall not bring a dairy product into the State from Northern Ireland, unless the dairy product-

(a) is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 5(5) of the Commission Decision that relates to the dairy product,

(b) in the case of a dairy product that complies with Article 5(2)(a) or (b), (3) or (4) of the Commission Decision and has been processed in an establishment referred to in Article 5(6) of the Commission Decision, it is accompanied by a commercial document endorsed in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Commission Decision, or

(c) in the case of a dairy product that complies with Article 5(2)(a) or (b), (3) or (4) of the Commission Decision in a hermetically sealed container that is shelf stable, is accompanied by a commercial document stating the heat treatment applied.

Semen, ova and embryos

8. (1) A person shall not bring the semen, ova or embryos of an animal into the State either directly or through another place from Great Britain, unless-

(a) in the case of bovine and porcine semen, it complies with Article 6(3) and is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 6(4) or (5) of the Commission Decision that relates to the semen,

(b) in the case of bovine embryos, they comply with Article 6(3)(b) and is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 6(6) of the Commission Decision that relates to the embryos, and

(c) the semen or embryos come from a centre listed in accordance with Article 6(3) of the Commission Decision.

(2) A person shall not bring the semen or embryos of an animal into the State from Northern Ireland unless-

(a) in the case of bovine and porcine semen, they are accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 6(4) or (5) of the Commission Decision that relates to the semen, or

(b) in the case of bovine embryos, they are accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 6(6) of the Commission Decision that relates to the embryos.

Hides and Skins

9. (1) A person shall not bring the hide or skin of an animal into the State either directly or through another place from Great Britain, unless the hide or skin complies with Article 7(2) of the Commission Decision, and-

(a) is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 7(3) of the Commission Decision that relates to the hide or skin,

(b) in the case of a hide or skin that complies with points (b) to (e) of paragraph 1 of Part A of Chapter VI of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) 1774/2002, compliance with those provisions is stated in a commercial document endorsed in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Commission Decision that accompanies the hide or skin, or

(c) in the case of a hide or skin that complies with points (c) to (d) of paragraph 2 of Part A of Chapter VI of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) 1774/2002, compliance with those provisions is stated in a commercial document endorsed in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Commission Decision that accompanies the hide or skin.

(2) A person shall not bring the hide or skin of an animal into the State from Northern Ireland unless the hide or skin-

(a) is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 7(3) of the Commission Decision that relates to the hide or skin,

(b) in the case of a hide or skin that complies with points (b) to (e) of paragraph 1 of Part A of Chapter VI of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) 1774/2002, compliance with those provisions is stated in a commercial document endorsed in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Commission Decision that accompanies the hide or skin, or

(c) in the case of a hide or skin that complies with points (c) to (d) of paragraph 2 of Part A of Chapter VI of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) 1774/2002, compliance with those provisions is stated in a commercial document endorsed in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Commission Decision that accompanies the hide or skin.

Specific Animal products

10. (1) A person shall not bring an animal product to which Article 8 of the Commission Decision refers into the State either directly or through another place from Great Britain unless-

(a) the animal product complies with Article 8(2)(a),

(b) in the case of blood and blood products, the blood or blood product complies with Article 8(2)(b),

(c) in the case of lard and rendered fats, the lard or fat complies with Article 8(2)(c),

(d) in the case of animal casings, the casing complies with Article 8(2)(d),

(e) in the case of sheep wool, ruminant hair or pigs� bristles, the wool, hair or bristle complies with Article 8(2)(e),

(f) in the case of pet food, the pet food complies with Article 8(2)(f),

(g) in the case of composite products, the composite product complies with Article 8(2)(g),

(h) in the case of game trophies, the game trophy complies with Article 8(2)(h), and

(i) in the case of packed products for use as in vitro or laboratory re-agents, the packed product complies with Article 8(2)(i),

of the Commission Decision and-

(i) is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 8(3) of the Commission Decision that relates to the product,

(ii) in the case of blood or a blood product, lard, rendered fat or an animal casing, is accompanied by a commercial document that complies with Article 8(4) of the Commission Decision that relates to the product,

(iii) in the case of an animal casing, is accompanied by a commercial document that complies with Article 8(5) of the Commission Decision,

(iv) in the case of a composite product produced in an establishment referred to in Article 8(6) of the Commission Decision, is accompanied by a commercial document that complies with that provision, or

(v) in the case of a packed product for use as in vitro or laboratory reagent, is accompanied by a commercial document that complies with Article 8(7) of the Commission Decision.

(2) A person shall not bring an animal product to which Article 8 of the Commission Decision refers into the State from Northern Ireland, unless-

(a) is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 8(3) of the Commission Decision that relates to the product,

(b) in the case of blood or a blood product, lard, rendered fat or an animal casing, is accompanied by a commercial document that complies with Article 8(4) of the Commission Decision that relates to the product,

(c) in the case of an animal casing, is accompanied by a commercial document that complies with Article 8(5) of the Commission Decision,

(d) in the case of a composite product produced in an establishment referred to in Article 8(6) of the Commission Decision, is accompanied by a commercial document that complies with that provision, or

(e) in the case of a packed product for use as in vitro or laboratory reagent, is accompanied by a commercial document that complies with Article 8(7) of the Commission Decision.

(3) A person shall not bring dung or manure or any thing contaminated with dung or manure into the State, either directly or through another place, from Great Britain.

Equidae

11. A person shall not bring an equine animal into the State from Great Britain, either directly or through another place, unless it is accompanied by a certificate that complies with Article 12(1), and bears the declaration cited in Article 12(2), of the Commission Decision that relates to the animal.

Possession of certain animals etc

12. A person shall not have in his or her possession or under his or her control an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins equidae or an animal product referred to in Regulation 10 that has been brought into the State in contravention of these Regulations.

Forgery

13. (1) A person shall not forge or utter knowing it to be forged a certificate, commercial document, a direction or requirement of an authorized officer under Regulation 15 (if in writing) or other thing required by these Regulations, (hereafter in this Regulation referred to as �a forged document�).

(2) A person shall not alter with intent to defraud or deceive, or to utter knowing it to be so altered a certificate, commercial document, a direction or requirement of an authorized officer under Regulation 15 (if in writing) or other thing required by these Regulations, (hereafter in this Regulation referred to as �an altered document�).

(3) A person shall not have a forged document or an altered document in his or her possession or under his or her control.

Obstruction etc

14. A person shall not-

(a) obstruct or impede an authorized officer (or person who accompanies an authorized officer) in the exercise of his or her powers under Regulation 15,

(b) fail, without reasonable cause, to comply with a requirement or direction of an authorized officer under Regulation 15,

(c) fail, without reasonable cause, to give assistance to an authorized officer in accordance with Regulation 17, or

(d) in making an application for a licence, registration, approval, authorization, certificate or other thing required by these Regulations or in purporting to give information to an authorized officer for the performance of the officer�s powers under Regulation 15-

(i) make a statement that he or she knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly make a statement which is false in a material particular, or

(ii) fail to disclose a material particular.

Authorized officers

15. (1) If an authorized officer has reasonable cause to suspect that-

(a) an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins, an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product or other thing to which the Commission Decision relates is present, has been present or may be present on a premises,

(b) an animal, carcase meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product or other thing to which the Commission Decision relates is or has been kept, processed, stored or otherwise dealt with on a premises,

(c) equipment, plant or machinery used in connection with an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product or other thing to which the Commission Decision relates is or may be on a premises,

(d) a document relating to a thing referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) is present, was present or may be present on a premises,

the authorized officer may enter the premises and he or she may-

(i) search the premises,

(ii) stop a person, vehicle, vessel or container,

(iii) board and search a vehicle, vessel or container,

(iv) examine an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairyproduct, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product, vehicle, vessel, container, equipment, machinery or other thing,

(v) take, without payment, samples of an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairyproduct, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product or other thing or an article, substance or liquid as he or she may reasonably require and carry out or cause to be carried out on a sample such tests, analyses, examinations or inspections as he or she considers necessary or expedient,

(vi) require the production of a document (including a document in non-legible form in a legible form) or thing relating to an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product, vehicle, vessel, container, equipment, machinery or other thing,

(vii) retain a document or thing (for so long as is necessary),

(viii) make a record using any means including writing, photography or video,

(ix) give a direction to, or request information of, a person regarding an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product, vessel, vehicle, container, machinery, equipment, premises or other thing as he or she considers necessary,

(x) require the name and address of a person and the name and address of any other person including the owner of, or person to whom an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product or other thing is being delivered or who is causing it to be delivered,

(xi) require of a person the ownership, identity and origin of the animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product, vessel, vehicle, container, equipment, machinery or other thing,

(xii) require a person in charge or control of a vessel, vehicle or container to refrain from moving it, or

(xiii) mark or otherwise identify an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product, vessel, vehicle, machinery, equipment or other thing or a sample taken under subparagraph (v).

(2) If an authorized officer has reasonable cause to suspect that-

(a) an offence is being or has been committed under these Regulations, or

(b) evidence of an offence under these Regulations may be, is or has been on a premises,

the authorized officer may, in addition to the powers exercisable by him or her under paragraph (1):

(i) search a person, where the authorized officer considers it necessary,

(ii) seize and detain, an animal, carcass, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product, vessel, vehicle, container, equipment, machinery or other thing, or

(iii) dispose of, or require the owner or person in charge of or in possession of an animal, carcass, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product or other thing to deal with or dispose of it (or any equipment, machinery, plant or other thing used in connection with, or that may have been in contact with, the animal, carcass, animal product or animal by-product) in a manner that the authorized officer sees fit.

(3) An authorized officer shall not enter, except with the consent of the occupier, a private dwelling, unless he or she has obtained a search warrant under Regulation 16 other than if he or she has reasonable cause to suspect that before a search warrant could be sought in relation to the dwelling anything to which paragraph (1) or (2) relates is being or is likely to be destroyed or disposed of.

(4) An authorized officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in exercise of his or her powers under this Regulation.

(5) An authorized officer, when exercising a power under this Regulation may be accompanied by other persons and may take with him or her, or those persons may take with them, any equipment or materials to assist the officer in the exercise of the power.

(6) An authorized officer is not liable in any proceedings for anything done in the purported exercise of his or her powers under this Regulation if the court is satisfied that the act was done in good faith and that there were reasonable grounds for doing it.

(7) Without prejudice to the generality paragraph (1), a direction or requirement of an authorized officer may include conditions-

(a) prohibiting, restricting or otherwise controlling the use, processing or movement of an animal, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product, a vessel, vehicle, container, equipment, machinery or other thing as may be specified by the authorized officer,

(b) requiring that the person to whom the direction is addressed to take the bio-security measures (including measures requiring the repair or erection of fences, boundaries or buildings) specified by the authorized officer, or

(c) requiring that an animal, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product, a vessel, vehicle, container, equipment, machinery or other thing be returned to the person who consigned it or to the place from which it came.

(8) An authorized officer may require the owner or the person in charge of an animal, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product or other thing to furnish to him or her the name and address of a person to whom an animal, animal product, animal by-product or other thing has been sold and who is for the time being receiving or has, on any day specified by the authorized officer, received an animal, animal product, animal by-product or other thing.

(9) If a member of the Garda S�och�na has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person has committed an offence under these Regulations, the member may without warrant arrest the person.

(10) If in the course of exercising any powers under these Regulations an authorized officer or a member of the Garda S�och�na finds or comes into possession of any thing that the officer or member believes to be evidence of an offence or suspected offence under these Regulations, it may be seized and retained for use in evidence.

(11) Nothing in these Regulations operates to prejudice a power conferred by another enactment to search, or to seize or detain property, which may be exercised by a member of the Garda S�och�na or an officer of Customs and Excise.

Search warrant

16. (1) If a judge of the District Court is satisfied by information on oath of an authorized officer that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting-

(a) evidence of or relating to the commission or intended commission of an offence under these Regulations is to be found on a premises,

(b) there may be, is or was an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, animal by-product or equipment or other thing made used or adapted for use (including manufacture and transport) in connection with an animal, carcase, animal product, animal by-product, animal feed or food, on a premises,

(c) a document or other record related to a thing to which subparagraph (a) or (b) refers is or may be on the premises,

the judge may issue a search warrant.

(2) A search warrant under this Regulation shall be expressed and operate to authorise a named authorized officer, accompanied by such authorized officers or other persons as the named authorized officer thinks necessary, at any time, within one month from the date of issue of the warrant, on production if so requested of the warrant, to enter (if necessary by use of reasonable force) the premises named in the warrant.

(3) If a premises is entered pursuant to a warrant issued under this Regulation, an authorized officer so entering may exercise all or any of the powers conferred on an authorized officer under these Regulations.

Assistance to an authorized officer

17. A person who has an animal, carcass, animal product, animal by-product, a vehicle, farm machinery, equipment or document relating to any thing to which these Regulations refer in his or her possession or under his or her control, the servant, agent or employee of the person shall give any assistance requested to an authorized officer or person who accompanies an authorized officer.

Offences

18. (1) A person who contravenes, causes or permits a contravention or aids or abets a contravention of-

(a) Regulation 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 17, or

(b) a requirement or direction of an authorized officer under Regulation 15,

commits an offence.

(2) If an offence under these Regulations is committed by a body corporate and is proven to have been so committed with the consent, connivance or approval of or to have been attributable to the wilful neglect on the part of any person, being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate or a person who was purported to act in any such capacity, that person, as well as the body corporate, commits offence and is liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he or she is guilty of the offence.

(3) If the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (2) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with the functions of management as if the member were a director or manager of the body corporate.

Prosecution of summary offences

19. A summary offence under these Regulations may be prosecuted by-

(a) the Minister,

(b) the Health Service Executive,

(c) the local authority in whose functional area the offence occurs, or

(d) in accordance with section 8 of the Garda S�och�na Act 2005, a member of the Garda S�och�na.

Penalties

20. A person who commits an offence under Regulation 18 is liable-

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding �5,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding �250,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.

Evidence on certificate etc.

21. (1) In proceedings for an offence under these Regulations, a certificate purported to be signed by a person employed at a laboratory where a sample taken under Regulation 15 is analysed stating the capacity in which the person is employed and stating-

(a) that the person received a sample,

(b) that, for the period specified in the certificate, the person had the sample in his or her possession,

(c) that the person gave the sample to another person named in the certificate, or

(d) the person carried out a procedure for the purpose of detecting in the sample, evidence of disease, a substance or contamination or that the sample contained evidence of disease, a substance or is, or, was contaminated in a manner, specified in the certificate,

is (without proof of the signature of the person or that he or she is employed at the laboratory), unless the contrary is proved, evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.

(2) In proceedings for an offence under these Regulations the court may, if it considers that it is in the interests of justice direct that oral evidence of the matters stated in a certificate under paragraph (1) be given, and the court may for the purpose of receiving oral evidence adjourn the matter.

(3) In proceedings under these Regulations, evidence of an act of the institutions of the European Communities may be given by production of a copy of the act certified by an officer of the Minister to be a copy of the act, and it is not necessary to prove the signature of the officer or that he or she is an officer of the Minister.

(4) Paragraph (3) is in addition to and not in substitution for the European Communities (Judicial Notice and Documentary Evidence) Regulations 1972 ( S.I. No. 341 of 1972 ).

Revocations etc

22. (1) The Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Foot and Mouth disease) (Restriction on imports from Great Britain) Order 2007 ( S.I. No. 573 of 2007 ) and the European Communities (Diseases of Animals Acts 1966 and 1979 Orders) (General Authorisations for Imports) (Restriction) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 575 of 2007 ) are revoked.

(2) The European Communities (Diseases of Animals Acts 1966 and 1979 Orders) (General Authorisations for Imports) Regulations 1985 ( S.I. No. 365 of 1985 ) do not apply to an animal, carcase, meat, a meat product, milk, a dairy product, semen, ova, an embryo, hides, skins and an animal product referred to in Regulation 10, to which these Regulations apply.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

8 August 2007

MARY COUGHLAN,

Minister for Agriculture and Food.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

These Regulations give effect to import restrictions imposed by the European Communities due to the existence of foot and mouth disease in Great Britain.

1 O.J. No. L 206 of 7.8.2007, p. 10.