S.I. No. 39/1998:

BRUCELLOSIS IN CATTLE (GENERAL PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) ORDER, 1998.

BRUCELLOSIS IN CATTLE (GENERAL PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) ORDER, 1998.

I, JOE WALSH, Minister for Agriculture and Food, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 3 , 13 , 20 and 27 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966 (No. 6 of 1966) (as adapted by the Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1997 ( S.I. No. 302 of 1997 ), hereby order as follows:

1. (1) This Order may be cited as the Brucellosis in Cattle (General Provisions) (Amendment) Order, 1998.

(2) This Order shall come into operation on the 23rd day of February, 1998.

2. The Brucellosis in Cattle (General Provisions) Order, 1991 ( S.I. No. 114 of 1991 ) (amended by the Brucellosis in Cattle (General Provisions) (Amendment) Order, 1996 ( S.I. No. 86 of 1996 )) is hereby amended by the substitution of the following Article for Article 18:

"18. (1) An eligible animal may not be moved into or out of any holding unless the person in charge of the animal has in his possession a valid cattle identity card in respect of such animal or a movement permit permitting such movement.

(2) An eligible animal may not be moved into or out of any holding other than directly to a premises at which it is to be slaughtered unless--

(a) the animal has passed a blood test within the period of 30 days prior to the day on which the animal is so moved, and

(b) the date of such blood test is specified in the cattle identity card in respect of such animal or movement permit issued in respect of such movement.

(3) A bull aged 12 months or more or a female animal aged 18 months or more may be sold not more than once, wether by public or private sale, during the period of 30 days from the carrying out of a blood test referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article.

(4) Where a bull or female animal, to which paragraph (3) of this Article applies, is sold, in accordance with that paragraph, by private sale, it shall be moved from the holding on which the blood test referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article has been carried out, directly to the holding of the purchaser.

(5) A bull or female animal, to which paragraph (3) of this Article applies, may be moved from the holding on which the blood test referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article has been carried out directly to a mart (within the meaning of the Livestock Marts Regulations, 1968 ( S.I. No. 251 of 1968 )) for the purposes of being sold, in accordance with the said paragraph (3), and where such bull or female animal--

(a) is sold at such mart, it shall be moved from the mart directly to the holding of the purchaser, or

(b) is not so sold, it shall be moved from the mart directly to the first-mentioned holding.

(6) Where an eligible animal is being moved into or out of any holding, a veterinary inspector or authorised officer may require the person in charge of the animal to produce for inspection by him the movement permit issued in respect of such movement or identity card in respect of such animal and in case a requirement is made under this paragraph the person of whom it is made shall forthwith comply with the requirement.".

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 18th day of February, 1998.

JOE WALSH,

Minister for Agriculture and Food.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

This Order introduces a compulsory 30 day pre-movement test for Brucellosis for all female bovine animals and bulls, aged 12 months or over, except for slaughter.

The Order also provides that bulls aged 12 months or more and female animals aged 18 months or more may be sold not more than once, whether by private or public sale, during the validity period of any 30 day movement test and these animals must move directly from the holding on which the test was carried out to the holding of the purchaser or via a mart to the holding of the purchaser.