Citation and commencement

1. This order, which may be cited as the Export Quarantine Stations (Regulation) Order 1973, shall come into operation on 1st June 1973.

Interpretation

2.-(1) In this order, unless the context otherwise requires-

"the Act" means the Diseases of Animals Act 1950;

"animals" means cattle, sheep and goats, and all other ruminating animals and swine;

"export quarantine station" means premises provided by the Minister or for the time being approved by him for the reception, isolation and examination of animals intended for export, pursuant to section 36(1) of the Act;

"inspector" means a person appointed to be an inspector for the purposes of the Act by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and includes a veterinary inspector so appointed;

"the Minister" in its application to any premises, or any animals in an export quarantine station, situated in England and Wales, means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and in relation to any premises or any such animals situated in Scotland, means the Secretary of State.

(2) The Interpretation Act 1889 shall apply to the interpretation of this order as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of Parliament and as if this order and the order hereby revoked were Acts of Parliament.

Approval of Export Quarantine Stations

3. Approval of any premises for use as an export quarantine station may be granted by the Minister in writing, on the application of the occupier, and subject to such terms and conditions as the Minister may require.

Movement of animals

4.-(1) No person shall move, or permit to be moved, any animal into or out of an export quarantine station except in accordance with the terms of an authority granted in respect of that animal by an inspector.

(2) The Minister may, before the issue of any authority under paragraph (1) of this Article, require the person to whom such authority is to be issued to make such applications or to make or give such statements, declarations or certificates as to the ownership, health and condition of any animal which is to be the subject of the authority as the Minister may require.

Examination and certificates

5. An inspector may, at the request of the owner or person in charge of any animal in an export quarantine station, carry out a veterinary examination of such animal, and may issue to the person making such request as aforesaid a certificate or certificates recording-

(i)the result of any such examination;

(ii)the duration and condition of the quarantine which such animal has undergone.

Enforcement

6. The provisions of this order shall, except where it is otherwise provided, be executed and enforced by the local authority.

Revocation

7. The Quarantine Stations (Regulation) Order of 1928(2) is hereby revoked.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order revokes and replaces with modifications the Quarantine Stations (Regulation) Order of 1928. The order provides for the issue, upon the application of the occupier, by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the Secretary of State for Scotland of an authority in respect of premises which are suitable for use as export quarantine stations, and restricts movement of animals in and out of any export quarantine station except under the terms of an authority granted by an inspector.

Certificates as to veterinary examination of animals in export quarantine stations and as to the duration and conditions of the quarantine may be issued.