Statutory Instruments

S.I. No. 503 of 2004

Diseases of Animals Act (Importation of Sheep) Order, 2004

S.I. No. 503 of 2004

Diseases of Animals Act (Importation of Sheep) Order, 2004.

I, Joe Walsh. Minister for Agriculture and Food, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by Sections 3 and 30 of the Disease of Animals Act 1966 (No. 6 of 1966) as adapted by the Agriculture Food and Rural Development (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 ( S.I. No. 306 of 2002 ) hereby order as follows:

1.     This Order may be cited as the Diseases of Animals (Importation of Sheep) Order, 2004.

2.      The Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Foot and Mouth Disease) (Import of Sheep from Northern Ireland) Order 2001 ( S.I. No. 364 of 2001 ) is revoked.

3.     A person shall not import, have in his or her possession or under his or her control, slaughter, sell or supply a sheep that has been imported in contravention of the Importation of Livestock Order, 1970 ( SI No. 296 of 1970 ) or the Importation of Livestock Order 1992 ( S.I. No. 298 of 1992 ) or of a General Authorisation issued under the European Communities (Diseases of Animals Acts 1966 and 1979 Orders) (General Authorisations for Imports) Regulations, 1985.

4.     The owner, operator or person in charge of any establishment at which sheep are slaughtered shall not permit a sheep imported for slaughter to be slaughtered at such establishment unless he or she has given notice of the importation in writing to the official veterinarian in charge at that establishment not less than 24 hours prior to the importation of such sheep into the State. Such notice shall specify the country of origin, the name and address of the premises at which the sheep have received or will receive official veterinary certification in the member state of dispatch, the species, the number of animals and the estimated date and time of arrival at the establishment.

5.     In the case of sheep imported for slaughter the notification referred to in Article 4 of this Order shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of Regulation 4, paragraph (4), sub paragraph (a) of the European Communities (Trade in Animals and Animal Products) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. No. 289/90).

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

This Statutory Instrument revokes the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Foot and Mouth Disease) (Importation of Sheep) Order, 2001 ( S.I. No. 364 of 2001 ), makes it an offence to import, have, slaughter, sell or supply a sheep imported in contravention of an import licence or a General Authorisation issued by the Minister, and requires the owner, operator or person in charge of a slaughter plant at which imported sheep are to be slaughtered to give 24 hours prior notification of the importation to the Veterinary Inspector in charge at that slaughterhouse.