United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

"animals" means cattle (excluding bison and yak), deer, goats, sheep and pigs;

"animal area" has the meaning given in article 4(3)(c);

"animal gathering" means an occasion at which animals are brought together for - 

(a) a sale, show or exhibition;

(b) onward consignment within Great Britain for further rearing, finishing or slaughter;

(c) inspection to confirm the animals possess specific breed characteristics;

(a) ensure that animals are unloaded and re-loaded in the animal area, and

(b) ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that animals do not leave the animal area except on a vehicle.

Duties on persons attending the animal gathering
     2.  - (1) No person shall enter licensed premises wearing outer clothing visibly contaminated with animal excreta or other animal contamination.

    (2) If a person in the animal area is wearing outer clothing visibly contaminated with animal excreta or other animal contamination, on leaving the animal area he shall immediately clean his clothing of gross contamination (unless the clothing is to be disposed of) and either - 

(a) disinfect it;

(b) change into clean clothing;

(c) dispose of it; or

(d) leave the licensed premises.

    (3) If a person outside the animal area is wearing outer clothing visibly contaminated with animal excreta or other animal contamination, an inspector may serve on him a notice giving him the option of immediately - 

(a) cleaning his outer clothing,

(b) changing into clean clothing,

(c) disposing of disposable clothing, or

(d) leaving the licensed premises.

Footwear in the animal area
     3. Any person leaving the animal area must cleanse and disinfect their footwear in the footbath provided.

Vehicles
     4.  - (1) No person shall bring on to or take from the licensed premises any vehicle or equipment carried with that vehicle that is contaminated with animal excreta.

    (2) This paragraph shall not apply to - 

(a) any vehicle or equipment contaminated with excreta from animals being carried on the vehicle at the time it is brought on to the licensed premises;

(b) any vehicle or equipment contaminated with excreta from animals which have been unloaded from the vehicle on the licensed premises;

(c) any vehicle or equipment brought on to the licensed premises solely for cleansing and disinfection, if taken directly to the cleansing and disinfection facilities immediately upon arrival.

 -  it extends the definition of "animal gatherings" to include animals brought together for inspections to ensure they possess specific breed characteristics (article 2);

 -  it makes provision for premises in a sole occupancy group (article 3);

 -  it imposes a 48 hour time limit on the duration of animal gatherings for the purpose of sales and onward consignment within Great Britain for slaughter, further rearing or finishing. A veterinary inspector may extend the time limit of an animal sale if this is necessary for animal welfare reasons or if the risk of introduction of disease into the sale or subsequent dissemination is low (article 7);

 -  it extends paragraph 4 of the Schedule to include excreta from animals that have been unloaded from the vehicle at the licensed premises. It also provides that vehicles or equipment contaminated with animal excreta may enter licensed premises for the sole purpose of cleansing and disinfecting the vehicle.

As before, it requires a licence for animal gatherings (article 4). It specifies that an animal gathering can only take place 27 days after the last animal left those premises and equipment on the premises has been cleaned of visible contamination (article 5). If the gathering takes place in paved premises article 6 makes provision for the cleansing and disinfection of those premises and enables a gathering to take place inside the normal time limits. It imposes duties on persons attending an animal gathering (article 8 and the Schedule). It imposes restrictions following an animal gathering (article 9).

It revokes the Markets, Sales and Lairs Order 1925 (S.I. 1925/1349) and amending instruments (article 11). It is enforced by the local authority (article 10).

Breach of the Order is an offence under section 73 of the Animal Health Act, punishable in accordance with section 75 of that Act.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from Renate Lowres, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ.