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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS


2006 No. 3247

ANIMALS, ENGLAND

ANIMAL HEALTH

The Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Poultry) (England) Order 2006

  Made 5th December 2006 
  Coming into force 30th December 2006 

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 1, 7(1), 7(2), 8(1), 11, 15(5), 17(1), 23, 25, 28, 35(1), 35(3), 38(1), 65(A)(3) and 83(2) of the Animal Health Act 1981[1], makes the following Order:

Title, application and commencement
     1. —(1) This Order may be cited as the Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Poultry) (England) Order 2006.

    (2) This Order applies in England only and comes into force on 30th December 2006.

Interpretation
    
2. In this Order—

Licences, notices and designations under this Order
     3. —(1) Licences granted under this Order—

    (2) A veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector must not license a movement under article 9, 10, 11 or 14 unless he has taken account of the relevant risk assessment.

    (3) In paragraph (2), "the relevant risk assessment" means the Secretary of State's assessment of the risk that the particular movement or a movement of that type would spread avian influenza.

    (4) Notices under this Order—

    (5) Designations under this Order—

    (6) Unless the Secretary of State directs otherwise by notice to the occupier of the premises, the following premises are deemed to be designated for the purposes of this Order—

    (7) Premises in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland designated respectively by the Scottish Ministers, the National Assembly or by the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development of Northern Ireland for the same purposes as they may be designated under this Order are deemed to be designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order.

    (8) Licences granted in Scotland or Wales for activities which could be licensed in England under this Order have effect in England as if they were licences granted under this Order but an inspector acting under the direction of the Secretary of State may serve a notice on any person moving any thing under the authority of such a licence, requiring him to move it or to keep it on premises specified in the notice or to move it out of England.

    (9) A person moving anything under the authority of a specific licence granted under this Order must—

    (10) A person moving anything under the authority of a general licence granted under this Order must—

Restrictions relating to things moved from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
     4. —(1) Measures in this Order applying in respect of any thing moved from an H5N1 controlled zone apply in respect of any such thing moved from an equivalent zone in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

    (2) Paragraph (1) only applies if the person to whom the measure applies is aware or should reasonably have been aware that the thing moved is from such an equivalent zone.

Areas A and B
    
5. —(1) The following are an area A for the purposes of the Commission Decision—

    (2) The following are an area B for the purposes of the Commission Decision—

Establishment of zones on suspicion of avian influenza of subtype H5N1 in poultry
    
6. —(1) This article applies if the Chief Veterinary Officer advises the Secretary of State that she suspects that—

    (2) The Secretary of State must declare two zones under article 13 of the Avian Influenza Order if the poultry or carcase in which highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N1 is suspected was found—

    (3) The zones referred to in paragraph (2) are—

    (4) In a declaration made in accordance with paragraph (2), the Secretary of State must specify which of the two zones declared is the first zone and which the second zone.

    (5) Premises which are partly in a first zone declared in accordance with paragraph (2) and partly in a second zone so declared are deemed to be wholly in the first zone.

Location and size of zones declared on suspicion of avian influenza of subtype H5N1 in poultry
    
7. —(1) One of the zones declared in accordance with article 6(2) ("the first zone") must—

    (2) The other zone declared in accordance with article 6(2) ("the second zone") must be in such location and of such size as the Secretary of State considers necessary to minimise the risk of the spread of avian influenza.

    (3) The Secretary of State must consider the following when deciding the extent of the first zone and the second zone—

    (4) "Outbreak point" means that part of any premises where any poultry or carcase referred to in article 6(1) has been found which the Secretary of State deems to be the centre of the suspected outbreak.

    (5) If a zone declared in accordance with paragraphs (1) or (2) would otherwise include land in Wales or Scotland, the Secretary of State must declare a zone of such part of that land as is in England.

Establishment of a restricted zone on confirmation of avian influenza of subtype H5N1 in poultry
    
8. —(1) This article applies if the Chief Veterinary Officer confirms that—

    (2) The Secretary of State must declare a restricted zone under article 28(5) of the Avian Influenza Order if the poultry or carcase in which highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N1 is confirmed was found—

Restrictions on the movement of poultry and other captive birds
    
9. —(1) No person shall move any poultry or other captive bird from a restricted zone to an unrestricted area, other member State or third country unless he is licensed by a veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector.

    (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the movement of—

    (3) A veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector may license the following movements—

    (4) The Secretary of State must ensure that veterinary surveillance is carried out at any premises to which day-old chicks are moved under paragraph (3)(d) for such period as he considers necessary.

    (5) Paragraph (4) does not apply if the day-old chicks so moved were hatched—

    (6) The occupier of premises to which poultry are moved under paragraph (3)(b) must ensure that no poultry are moved off the premises for at least 21 days from the date the poultry so moved arrived there.

    (7) In this article—

Restrictions on the movement of hatching eggs
    
10. —(1) No person shall move hatching eggs from a restricted zone to an unrestricted area, other member State or third country unless he is licensed by a veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector

    (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a movement to an approved body.

    (3) A veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector may license the movement of hatching eggs from any premises which, on the day of collection, are in a restricted zone, to—

    (4) A veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under his direction may also license the movement of SPF-eggs to the premises referred to in paragraph (2)(d) and (e).

    (5) The occupier of an undesignated hatchery to which hatching eggs are moved in accordance with paragraph (2) must—

    (6) A person moving hatching eggs under paragraph (2) or (3) must ensure that they are kept separate from eggs from outside the restricted zone.

    (7) Hatching eggs which come into contact with hatching eggs from within a restricted zone are subject to the provisions in paragraphs (1) to (5) applying to such eggs.

    (8) In this article—

Restrictions on the movement of wild game bird products
    
11. —(1) No person shall move any wild game bird product intended for human consumption from a protection, surveillance or restricted zone to an unrestricted area, other member State or third country.

    (2) But a veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector may license the following movements—

    (3) A person moving a wild game bird product referred to in paragraph (2)(d) must ensure that it does not come into contact with any other such product.

    (4) Any wild game bird product which comes into contact with a wild game bird product moved under paragraph (2)(d) is subject to the measures applicable to such products under paragraphs (2)(d) and (3).

    (5) In this article—

Requirements for the marking of wild game bird meat and meat products
     12. —(1) Fresh meat and meat products referred to in article 11(2)(d) must be marked—

    (2) The national mark referred to in paragraph 1(b) must—

    (3) No person other than the final consumer of meat or of a meat product, marked in accordance with this article, may deface, obliterate or remove that mark, unless authorised by the Secretary of State.

Duties on the occupier of premises to which the carcases of wild game birds are sent
    
13. The occupier of premises to which the carcase of any wild game bird from a protection, surveillance or restricted zone is sent must ensure that meat from that bird is obtained, cut, transported and stored separately from other meat.

Restrictions on the movement of bird by-products
    
14. —(1) No person shall move any bird by-product derived wholly or partially from any bird in a protection, surveillance or restricted zone—

    (2) But a veterinary inspector or an inspector acting under the direction of a veterinary inspector may license the movement of any of the following bird by-products—

    (3) No person shall move any bird by-product referred to in paragraph (2)(a) to (i) unless it has been processed at a processing plant in accordance with Annex V to Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002.

    (4) By-products from poultry, referred to in paragraphs (2)(p) and (q), must be accompanied by a commercial document in accordance with Chapter X of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002.

    (5) Point 6.1 of the commercial document accompanying by-products referred to in paragraph (2)(p) must state that they have been treated with a steam current or with another method to ensure that no virus causing avian influenza remains.

    (6) Paragraph (4) does not apply to—

Ban on bird gatherings
    
15. —(1) No person shall arrange any fair, market, show, exhibition or other gathering involving the collecting together of poultry or other captive birds in a restricted zone.

    (2) No person shall bring any poultry or other captive bird to such a gathering in such a zone.

General duties relating to execution of this Order
    
16. —(1) Any person required to give reasonable assistance or information to a person executing this Order must, unless he has reasonable cause, do so without delay.

    (2) No person shall deface, obscure or remove any mark applied by an inspector under article 21(1).

    (3) No person shall provide information which he knows to be false or misleading to a person executing this Order.

    (4) The costs incurred by any person in taking action required, or in refraining from taking action prohibited, under this Order must be met by that person unless the Secretary of State directs otherwise in writing.

Cleansing and disinfection
    
17. —(1) Any person who is required under this Order to carry out disinfection at any premises or of any thing must—

    (2) Where cleansing and disinfection of vehicles is required at any premises under this Order, the occupier of those premises must provide adequate facilities and proper equipment and materials for that cleansing and disinfection.

Record keeping
     18. —(1) A person moving poultry, other captive birds or their products under a licence granted under this Order must—

    (2) A person who is required under this Order to make any other record must retain it for at least twelve months from the date the record is made.

    (3) A person required to produce a record by a person executing this Order must do so without delay.

    (4) On production of the record, the person executing this Order may—

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

    (2) The person entitled to occupation of the premises following that termination must—

    (3) If the keeper is unable or unwilling to feed or tend the poultry, other captive bird or mammal, 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 under this article by any person feeding or tending it, or providing facilities for feeding, tending or otherwise using it.

Disapplication of provisions to any person executing this Order
    
20. Provisions in this Order which prohibit or restrict the movement or use of any thing do not apply to the following in their execution of this Order—

Powers of inspectors
    
21. —(1) An inspector executing this Order may mark any bird or other thing for identification purposes.

    (2) An inspector executing this Order may require—

    (3) A veterinary inspector executing this Order, or an inspector acting under his direction, may cleanse and disinfect any premises.

    (4) A veterinary inspector executing this Order, or an inspector acting under his direction, may require—

Powers of inspectors in case of default
    
22. —(1) If any person fails to comply with a requirement under this Order, an inspector may take such steps he considers necessary to ensure the requirement is met, at the expense of that person.

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

Offences by bodies corporate
    
23. —(1) If an offence committed by a body corporate is shown—

the officer as well as the body corporate is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

    (2) If the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body.

    (3) "Officer", in relation to a body corporate, means a director, member of the committee of management, chief executive, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body, or a person purporting to act in any such capacity.

Enforcement
    
24. —(1) This Order must be enforced by the local authority.

    (2) The Secretary of State may direct, in relation to cases of a particular description or to a particular case, that he will enforce this Order instead.


Ben Bradshaw
Minister of State Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

5th December 2006



SCHEDULE
Article 12(1)(a)


Marking of meat and meat products from wild game birds originating in a protection, surveillance or restricted zone


     1. The mark referred to in article 12(1)(a) must be—

     2. The mark must be of the following shape and size—



Click here to view image 1 of 1



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)


This Order transposes—

The Commission Decisions adopted on 1st December 2006 have not yet been published in the Official Journal of the European Union but are available at the addresses set out below.

The Order supplements the general measures to control avian influenza set out in the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No 2) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2702) ("the main Order"). Measures to control highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N1 in wild birds are set out in the Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) (England) Order 2006.

Article 5 specifies which zones declared under the main Order are zones A and B for the purposes of the Commission Decision.

Article 6 requires the Secretary of State to declare temporary control zones or temporary movement restriction zones under the main Order if highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N1 is suspected in poultry. Article 7 relates to the location and size of such zones. Article 8 requires the Secretary of State to declare a restricted zone under the main Order on confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N1 in poultry.

The general measures which may be imposed on suspicion and confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza are set out in the main Order. Additional measures in articles 9 to 14 of this Order restrict movements of the following:

Article 15 bans bird gatherings in restricted zones. Articles 16 to 24 contain measures relating to enforcement of the Order. Schedule 1 sets out the mark to be applied to meat and meat products from wild game birds from protection, surveillance and restricted zones.

A breach of this Order is an offence under section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981, punishable under section 75 of that Act.

Copies of the Commission Decisions adopted on 1st December 2006 and referred to above are available from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Exotic Disease Prevention and Control Division, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ and at
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/ai/policy/legislation.htm.

A regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this Order will have on the costs of business has not been prepared because of the obligation to implement European Commission Decisions on animal disease control as quickly as possible.


Notes:

[1] 1981 c. 22, as amended by the Animal Health Act 2002, c. 42, S.I. 2003/1734 and S.I. 2003/2035. Powers of the Secretary of State under the Act were previously exercised by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (see section 86(1)). Functions were transferred to the Secretary of State by S.I. 1999/3141 and 2002/794. Functions exercisable by the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales in relation to England were transferred to the Minister by S.I. 1999/3141 and were then transferred to the Secretary of State by S.I. 2002/794.back

[2] OJ No L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54, as last amended by Directive 2004/68/EC (OJ No L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 321) and corrected by OJ No L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 128.back

[3] S.I. 2006/2702.back

[4] OJ No L 164, 16.6.2006, p. 51.back

[5] SANCO/10587/2006 Rev. 4. The adopted Decision has not yet been published in the Official Journal of the European Union but copies are available at the addresses set out in the Explanatory Note.back

[6] OJ No L273, 10.10.2002, p 1.back

[7] OJ No L036, 8.2.2006, p 25.back

[8] S.I. 2005/2347.back

[9] OJ No L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55, as corrected by OJ No L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 22.back

[10] OJ No L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 206, as corrected by OJ No L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 83.back

[11] S.I. 1978/32. Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2005/1908 and S.I. 2006/1197.back

[12] The definition of the Diseases of Poultry Order in article 2 of the Disinfectants Order was amended by S.I. 2006/2702 to include S.I. 2006/2702 as well as S.I. 2003/1078.back



ISBN 0 11 075426 3


 © Crown copyright 2006

Prepared 21 December 2006


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URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/legis/num_reg/2006/20063247.html