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STATUTORY RULES OF NORTHERN IRELAND


2007 No. 69

ANIMALS

ANIMAL HEALTH

The Avian Influenza (Vaccination) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

  Made 9th February 2007 
  Coming into operation 10th February 2007 


CONTENTS

1. Citation and commencement
2. Interpretation
3. Scope of the Regulations
4. Declarations, notices and licences
5. Prohibition on vaccination
6. Emergency vaccination
7. Preventive vaccination
8. Declaration of a vaccination zone in the Republic of Ireland
9. Measures applying in a vaccination zone or to premises that are the subject of a vaccination notice or vaccination licence
10. Emergency vaccination without an approved plan
11. Failure to vaccinate animals specified for vaccination
12. Slaughter of vaccinated birds
13. Cleansing and disinfection of vehicles: provision of facilities, equipment and materials
14. Change of occupation of premises under restriction
15. Provision of reasonable assistance or information and cooperation
16. False information
17. Retention and production of records
18. Costs of compliance with these Regulations
19. Compliance with a declaration or notice
20. Powers of inspectors
21. Powers of inspectors in case of default
22. Offences and proceedings

  SCHEDULE— Permitted movements
 PART I— Hatching eggs
 PART II— Eggs other than hatching eggs
 PART III— Day-old chicks
 PART IV— Live poultry or other captive birds
 PART V— Vaccinated poultry for slaughter
 PART VI— Unvaccinated poultry for slaughter
 PART VII— Movement of live poultry or other captive birds out of the United Kingdom
 PART VIII— Interpretation

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, being designated[
1] for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972[2] in relation to the common agricultural policy of the European Community, makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred on it by that section.

Citation and commencement
     1. These Regulations may be cited as the Avian Influenza (Vaccination) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and come into operation on 10th February 2007.

Interpretation
    
2. —(1) In these Regulations—

    (2) Expressions that are not defined in these Regulations and occur in the Directive have the same meaning in these Regulations as they have for the purposes of the Directive.

    (3) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954[6] shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Scope of the Regulations
     3. These Regulations do not apply to birds kept in a zoo within the meaning of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007[7].

Declarations, notices and licences
     4. —(1) A declaration of a vaccination zone—

    (2) A notice served under these Regulations—

    (3) A vaccination notice served under these Regulations—

    (4) A licence granted under these Regulations—

    (5) The Department shall ensure that the extent of any vaccination zone declared, the nature of the restrictions and requirements applicable within it and the dates of its declaration and withdrawal are publicised.

    (6) A person moving any thing under the authority of a specific licence must—

    (7) A person moving any thing under the authority of a general licence must—

Prohibition on vaccination
    
5. —(1) A person must not vaccinate any bird against avian influenza except where required by an inspector or under the authority of and in accordance with the conditions of a licence granted by the Department.

    (2) The prohibition in paragraph (1) does not apply to—

Emergency vaccination
     6. —(1) Where the condition in paragraph (2) is fulfilled, the Department must, if it considers it necessary to reduce the risk of the spread of avian influenza—

    (2) The condition is that the Department has carried out a risk assessment which indicates that there is a significant and immediate threat of avian influenza spreading within or into Northern Ireland following—

    (3) Where an emergency vaccination zone is declared, or an emergency vaccination notice is served, after an emergency vaccination plan has been submitted to and approved by the European Commission in accordance with Articles 53 and 54 of the Directive, the declaration or service of the notice must be in accordance with the provisions of that plan.

    (4) Any premises that are partly inside and partly outside an emergency vaccination zone are deemed to be wholly within it.

    (5) Nothing in paragraph (1)(a) should deem any part of a premises outside Northern Ireland to be within an emergency vaccination zone.

Preventive vaccination
    
7. —(1) Where the conditions in paragraph (2) are fulfilled, the Department may, in accordance with the preventive vaccination plan referred to in paragraph (2)(b)—

    (2) The conditions are—

    (3) Any premises that are partly inside and partly outside a preventive vaccination zone are deemed to be wholly within it.

    (4) Nothing in paragraph (1)(b)(i) should deem any part of a premises outside Northern Ireland to be within a preventive vaccination zone.

Declaration of a vaccination zone in the Republic of Ireland
    
8. —(1) This regulation applies where a programme of vaccination is to be undertaken in the Republic of Ireland.

    (2) Where this regulation applies the Department may declare an emergency or preventive vaccination zone in Northern Ireland, or any part of it, of such size as it thinks fit to prevent the spread of disease.

    (3) A declaration under this regulation must specify the extent of the emergency or preventive vaccination zone.

Measures applying in a vaccination zone or to premises that are the subject of a vaccination notice or vaccination licence
    
9. —(1) The Department must, in a declaration of a vaccination zone, a vaccination notice or a vaccination licence, specify who is to carry out the vaccination and that person shall do so in accordance with these Regulations.

    (2) In a declaration of a vaccination zone, a vaccination notice or a vaccination licence, the Department may, in accordance with any relevant approved vaccination plan, impose any measures within the vaccination zone or premises which are the subject of a vaccination notice or a vaccination licence, necessary to—

and may impose such other restrictions and conditions as it considers necessary to reduce the risk of the spread of avian influenza.

    (3) In paragraph (2) "products" of poultry or other captive birds means any carcase, egg or any other thing originating or made (whether in whole or in part) from poultry or other captive birds or from the carcases of such birds.

    (4) Paragraphs (1) to (3) apply notwithstanding any other requirement or restriction applying in any part of a zone or premises because that part of the zone or premises falls within another zone declared by the Department or is the subject of another notice served by the Department, for the purposes of reducing the risk of the spread of avian influenza or for any other purpose.

    (5) Any person moving poultry or other captive birds under this regulation or regulation 10 must keep a record of the date of the movement and the registration of any vehicle used.

    (6) A slaughterhouse, egg packing centre or hatchery that is designated under The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007[
10] is deemed to be designated for the purpose of receiving poultry or eggs (as the case may be) that are moved under the authority of and in accordance with the conditions of a licence.

Emergency vaccination without an approved plan
     10. —(1) This regulation applies when the Department declares an emergency vaccination zone or serves an emergency vaccination notice before an emergency vaccination plan has been approved by the European Commission in accordance with Article 54 of the Directive.

    (2) A person shall not move any poultry, any other captive birds, their carcases or any eggs from poultry or other captive birds—

    (3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to—

    (4) The occupier of premises to which day-old chicks, live poultry (except those going for slaughter) or other captive birds are moved under paragraphs 2 and 3 of Part III or Part IV of the Schedule, must ensure that those day-old chicks, poultry or other captive birds are placed in a part of the premises where there is no other poultry.

    (5) The occupier of premises to which live poultry (except those going for slaughter) or other captive birds are moved under Part IV of the Schedule, must ensure that those poultry or other captive birds are vaccinated without delay if vaccination is required at those premises by a declaration or emergency vaccination notice under regulation 6(1).

    (6) The occupier of a slaughterhouse to which poultry for slaughter are moved under Parts V and VI of the Schedule, must ensure that those poultry are slaughtered without delay.

Failure to vaccinate animals specified for vaccination
    
11. Any person who knows or suspects that a bird has not been vaccinated as required by the Department must immediately notify the Divisional Veterinary Officer of the Department for the area in which that bird is located.

Slaughter of vaccinated birds
    
12. —(1) The Department may slaughter or cause to be slaughtered any poultry or other captive bird which has been treated with vaccine against avian influenza.

    (2) The power conferred by this regulation extends to taking any action—

    (3) Compensation shall be paid in respect of any bird slaughtered under this regulation and shall be the value of the bird immediately before it was slaughtered.

    (4) For the purposes of this regulation, the Diseases of Animals (Valuation) Order (Northern Ireland) 1989[
11] applies to birds slaughtered under this regulation as it applies to birds slaughtered under the 1981 Order.

Cleansing and disinfection of vehicles: provision of facilities, equipment and materials
     13. Where cleansing and disinfection of vehicles is required at any premises, the occupier of those premises must provide adequate facilities and proper equipment and materials for that cleansing and disinfection.

Change of occupation of premises under restriction
    
14. —(1) This regulation applies if the keeper of any poultry or other captive bird is unable to move it from premises on the termination of his right of occupation because of a movement restriction and continues to apply for seven days after any such restriction has been removed.

    (2) The person entitled to occupation of the premises on termination of the keeper's right of occupation must—

    (3) If the keeper is unable or unwilling to feed or tend the poultry or other captive bird, the person entitled to occupation of the premises must take such steps as are necessary to ensure it is properly fed and tended.

    (4) The keeper is liable to pay the reasonable costs incurred by any person feeding or tending it or providing facilities for feeding, tending or otherwise using it.

Duty to provide reasonable assistance or information
    
15. —(1) A person required to give reasonable assistance or information to an inspector must, unless he has reasonable cause, do so without delay.

    (2) A person shall not alter, deface, obscure or remove any mark applied to any bird or thing by an inspector.

False information
    
16. A person shall not provide information which he knows to be false or misleading to an inspector.

Retention and production of records
    
17. —(1) A person who is required to keep a record must—

    (2) An inspector may enter any premises for the purpose of inspecting any records required to be kept and may—

Costs of compliance with these Regulations
    
18. The costs incurred by any person in taking any action required or in refraining from taking action that is prohibited, must be met by that person unless the Department directs otherwise in writing.

Compliance with a declaration or notice
    
19. —(1) A person, to whom a declaration or notice applies, shall comply with the requirements or restrictions thereof.

Powers of inspectors
    
20. —(1) An inspector may require, by notice, the person in charge of any vehicle or equipment to cleanse and disinfect it.

    (2) An inspector may—

    (3) An inspector may stop, detain and inspect any vehicle to ascertain whether the provisions of these Regulations are being complied with.

    (4) For the purpose of preventing the spread of avian influenza an inspector may, at any time, enter any premises for the purpose of ascertaining whether a power conferred under these Regulations to cause a bird to be vaccinated should be exercised.

    (5) An inspector may at any time enter any premises for the purpose of ascertaining whether a power conferred under these Regulations to cause a bird to be slaughtered should be exercised.

    (6) An inspector may—

    (7) Any person who enters premises under paragraph (6)(d) may return to them unaccompanied to take any further steps necessary to execute or enforce these Regulations.

    (8) The owner or person in charge of any bird or carcase of a bird and the owner or occupier and any person employed on or in, any land, building, shed, pen or place where it is kept must provide such facilities and comply with such reasonable requirements of the officer as may be necessary to facilitate the exercise of his powers under paragraph (4).

Powers of inspectors in case of default
    
21. —(1) Where a person fails to comply with a requirement of these Regulations, an inspector may take any steps he considers necessary to ensure the requirement is met.

    (2) The person in default shall reimburse any reasonable expenses incurred by the Department in taking such steps and any such amount is recoverable summarily.

    (3) An inspector's powers under paragraph (1) include powers to—

Enforcement, offences and proceedings
    
22. —(1) The following provisions of the 1981 Order shall apply as if these Regulations were an order made under the 1981 Order—

    (2) Article 52 of the 1981 Order (offences) applies as if these Regulations were an order made under the 1981 Order except that any term of imprisonment on summary conviction shall not exceed three months.



Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on


9th February 2007.

L.S.


E. Redmond
A senior officer of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development


SCHEDULE
Regulation 10


Permitted movements




PART I

Hatching eggs

     1. —(1) Provided that the conditions in sub-paragraph (2) are fulfilled, the movement of any hatching egg—

    (2) The conditions are—

    (3) The movement of any hatching egg from premises that are outside a vaccination zone or are not the subject of a vaccination notice, to premises that are within a vaccination zone or the subject of a vaccination notice, provided that it is to be transported directly to a designated hatchery.



PART II

Eggs other than hatching eggs

     1. —(1) Provided that the conditions in sub-paragraph (2) are fulfilled, the movement of any egg other than a hatching egg—

    (2) The conditions are that the egg originates from a layer flock which has been clinically examined by an inspector who has not placed that flock under any restrictions and—

     2. The movement of any egg other than a hatching egg from premises that are outside a vaccination zone or, are not the subject of a vaccination notice, to premises that are within a vaccination zone or the subject of a vaccination notice, provided that—



PART III

Day-old chicks

     1. The movement of any day-old chick from premises that are within a vaccination zone to other premises that are within a vaccination zone provided that it originates from a hatching egg satisfying the conditions set out in Part I paragraph 1(2).

     2. The movement of any day-old chick from premises that are within a vaccination zone or the subject of a vaccination notice, to premises that are outside a vaccination zone or are not the subject of a vaccination notice, provided that—

     3. The movement of any day-old chick from premises that are outside a vaccination zone or are not the subject of a vaccination notice, to premises that are within a vaccination zone or the subject of a vaccination notice.



PART IV

Live poultry or other captive birds

     1. The movement of any live poultry (except those going for slaughter) or other captive bird from premises that are within a vaccination zone to other premises that are within a vaccination zone provided that—

     2. The movement of any live poultry (except those going for slaughter) or other captive bird from premises that are within a vaccination zone or the subject of a vaccination notice, to premises that are outside a vaccination zone or are not the subject of a vaccination notice, provided that—

     3. The movement of any live poultry (except those going for slaughter) or other captive bird from premises that are outside a vaccination zone or are not the subject of a vaccination notice, to premises that are within a vaccination zone or the subject of a vaccination notice.



PART V

Vaccinated poultry for slaughter

     1. —(1) Provided that the conditions in sub-paragraph (2) are fulfilled, the movement of any vaccinated poultry for slaughter—

    (2) The conditions are—



PART VI

Unvaccinated poultry for slaughter

     1. —(1) Provided that the conditions in sub-paragraph (2) are fulfilled, the movement of any unvaccinated poultry for slaughter—

    (2) The conditions are—

     2. The movement of any poultry for slaughter from premises that are outside a vaccination zone or, are not the subject of a vaccination notice, to premises that are within a vaccination zone or the subject of a vaccination notice, provided that they are to be sent directly to a designated slaughterhouse.



PART VII

Movement of live poultry or other captive birds out of the United Kingdom

     1. The movement of any live poultry or other captive birds out of the United Kingdom from premises that are within a vaccination zone or the subject of a vaccination notice provided that the movement is authorised by the receiving member State.



PART VIII

Interpretation

     1. In this Schedule, premises that are expressed to be "designated" are those which are deemed to be designated in accordance with regulation 9(6).



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)


These Regulations transpose for Northern Ireland, Council Directive 2005/94/EC on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC (O.J. No. L10, 14.1.2006, p. 16) insofar as it deals with vaccination against avian influenza.

Regulation 5 imposes a general prohibition on vaccination of birds against avian influenza except where licenced by the Department.

Regulations 6 permits the Department, if it considers it necessary to reduce the risk of the spread of avian influenza, to declare a vaccination zone in an area that contains poultry or other captive birds that it considers should be vaccinated or to serve a vaccination notice on premises where such birds are kept. Regulation 7 also permits the Department to grant a licence to occupiers of premises that permit vaccination of birds or certain categories of birds, on those premises. Such a measure can only be carried out on a preventive basis and where a risk assessment indicates that birds on the premises are exposed to a risk of avian influenza. Such measures can only be carried out in accordance with a vaccination plan approved by the European Commission and where a risk assessment has been carried out that has indicated that there is a significant and immediate threat of avian influenza spreading within or into Northern Ireland or that certain areas or birds are in any event exposed to a risk of avian influenza. These measures will be emergency or preventive, depending on the nature of the risk.

Regulation 8 provides for the declaration of a vaccination zone in the event of a programme of vaccination within certain parameters in the Republic of Ireland.

Regulation 9 provides for measures applying in a vaccination zone or premises that are the subject of a vaccination notice or a vaccination licence. Regulation 10 provides that where emergency vaccination is undertaken before the European Commission has approved the national emergency vaccination plan, there is a general prohibition on the movement of poultry, other captive birds and their eggs from one premises within an emergency vaccination zone to another within an emergency vaccination zone, into or out of any emergency vaccination zone and into or out of any premises that is the subject of a vaccination notice unless the movement is one of the permitted movements listed in the Schedule and the movement is licenced.

Regulation 11 makes provision for birds which ought to have been included in a vaccination programme but were not for any reason vaccinated.

Regulation 12 provides for the slaughter of vaccinated poultry or other captive birds.

Regulation 13 requires occupiers to provide facilities, equipment and materials where cleansing and disinfection of vehicles is required on their premises.

Regulation 14 provides for the feeding and tending of birds which cannot be moved on termination of a right of occupation of premises because of a restriction imposed by the Regulations.

Regulations 15 to 22 relate to provision of information, powers of inspectors, records and offences.


Notes:

[1] S.I. 2000/2812back

[2] 1972 c. 68back

[3] O.J. No. L 10, 14.1.2006, p. 16back

[4] S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1972 No 16 as amended by S.R. 1975 No. 69, S.R. 1995 No. 467 and S.R. 2006 No. 42back

[5] S.I. 1981/1115 (N.I. 22) as amended by S.I. 1984/702 (N.I. 2) Article 17 and S.I. 1994/1891 (N.I. 6) Articles 19 to 22back

[6] 1954 c. 33 (N.I.)back

[7] S.R. 2007 No. 70back

[8] S.R. 1999 No. 434back

[9] S.I. 2006/2407back

[10] S.R. 2007 No. 68back

[11] S.R. 1989 No. 5back

[12] O.J. No. L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 is now set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L226, 25.6.2004, p.22)back

[13] O.J. No. L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 1. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 is now set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L226, 25.6.2004, p.3)back



ISBN 978 0 337 96852 5


 © Crown copyright 2007

Prepared 21 February 2007


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