The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1996

Contents

Part I · Preliminary

Article 1Title and commencement#

This Order may be cited as the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1996 and shall come into force on 1st August 1996.

Article 2Extension of definition of “disease”#

For the purposes of the Act the definition of “disease” in section 88(1) of the Act is hereby extended so as to comprise bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Article 3Extension of definitions of “animals” and “poultry”#

For the purposes of the Act in its application to this Order—

(a)the definition of “animals” in section 87(1) of the Act is hereby extended so as to comprise—

(i)any kind of mammal except man, and

(ii)any kind of four-footed beast which is not a mammal; and

(b)the definition of “poultry” in section 87(4) of the Act is hereby extended so as to comprise birds of every species.

Article 4Interpretation#

(1)In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires—• “the Act” means the Animal Health Act 1981;• “affected animal” means a bovine animal which is affected with the disease;• “bovine animal” means a bull, cow, steer, heifer or calf;• “the disease” means bovine spongiform encephalopathy;• “the Divisional Veterinary Manager” means the veterinary inspector appointed for the time being by the Minister to receive information about affected or suspected animals, or the carcases of such animals, for the area in which such animals or carcases are;• “feeding stuff” has the meaning given by section 66(1) of the Agriculture Act 1970;• “fertiliser” has the meaning given by section 66(1) of the Agriculture Act 1970;• “knacker’s yard” means any premises used for the commercial slaughter or killing of animals, the flesh of which is not intended for human consumption, including any associated facilities for moving or lairaging such animals;• “livestock” means any creature, including a fish, kept for production of food, wool, skin or fur, any creature other than a dog kept for use in the farming of land and any equine animal;• “mammalian meat and bone meal” means mammalian protein derived from the whole or part of any dead mammal by rendering, or, in the case of an imported product, by an equivalent process;• “market” means a market, fairground, sale-yard or any other place where bovine animals are commonly exposed for sale;• “MBM product” means any product containing mammalian meat and bone meal;• “premises” means all contiguous land and buildings occupied by a person, together with other land or buildings occupied by that person which use equipment in common with the contiguous land or buildings;• “production” includes the manufacture, mixing or packaging of any product, together with ancillary storage and transport operations;• “protein” means any proteinaceous material which is derived from a carcase but does not include—(a) milk or any milk product;(b) dicalcium bone phosphate;(c) dried plasma or any other blood product;(d) gelatin; or(e) amino acids produced from hides and skins by a process which involves exposure of the material to acid of a pH lower than 2 followed by alkali of a pH greater than 11 and heat treatment at a minimum of 140°C for 30 minutes at a pressure of 3 bar;• “rendering” has the meaning given in the Animal By-Products Order 1992;• “research establishment” means an establishment carrying out research into the disease;• “sell” includes have in possession for sale and offer or expose for sale;• “slaughterhouse” means any building, premises or place for slaughtering animals, the flesh of which is intended for sale for human consumption, and includes any place available in connection with such a place for the confinement of animals while awaiting slaughter there;• “suspected animal” means a bovine animal which is suspected of being affected with the disease; and• “veterinary surgeon” means a person registered in the register of veterinary surgeons or in the supplementary veterinary register.

(2)Any reference in this Order—

(a)to a numbered article is a reference to the article bearing that number in this Order; and

(b)to a lettered form is a reference to the Form bearing that letter in the Schedule to this Order.

(3)For the purposes of this Order, material shall be treated as a feeding stuff whether it is used or intended for use as a feeding stuff by itself or as an ingredient in something which is so used or intended for such use.

Part II · Affected and suspected animals

Article 5Notification of disease in bovine animals#

(1)A person who has in his possession or under his charge an affected or a suspected animal, or the carcase of such an animal, and any veterinary surgeon or other person who, in the course of his duties, examines or inspects any such animal or carcase shall, with all practicable speed, notify the fact to the Divisional Veterinary Manager.

(2)A person who has in his possession or under his charge on any premises an affected or a suspected animal, or the carcase of such an animal, shall detain it on the premises until it has been examined by a veterinary inspector.

(3)A person who, in the course of a laboratory examination of the carcase of an animal, reasonably suspects the presence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, shall—

(a)with all practicable speed, notify the fact to the Divisional Veterinary Manager;

(b)retain the sample examined and the remainder of the carcase until its disposal has been authorised in writing by a veterinary inspector; and

(c)if required in writing to do so by a veterinary inspector, surrender any samples, in whatever form, to such an inspector.

(4)Paragraph (3) above shall not apply to any bovine spongiform encephalopathy which has been introduced deliberately into an animal, a carcase or a sample in a laboratory.

Article 6Veterinary enquiry as to existence of disease and requirements relating to affected or suspected animals#

(1)If a veterinary inspector has reasonable grounds for supposing that the disease exists, or has within 56 days existed, on any premises, he shall, with all practicable speed, take such steps as may be necessary to establish the correctness of that supposition.

(2)For the purposes of such an enquiry a veterinary inspector may—

(a)examine any bovine animal or carcase on the premises;

(b)make such tests and take such samples from any bovine animal or carcase on the premises as he may consider necessary for the purpose of diagnosis; and

(c)mark for identification purposes any bovine animal or carcase on the premises.

(3)The occupier of the premises and his employees, and any person who is or has been in possession or charge of any animal or carcase which is or has been on the premises, shall—

(a)provide such reasonable facilities and comply with such reasonable requirements as are necessary for the purposes of the enquiry; and

(b)if so required by an inspector of the Minister, or by an officer of the appropriate Minister, give such information as he possesses as to—

(i)any animal or carcase which is or has been on the premises;

(ii)any other animal or carcase with which any animal or carcase which is or has been on the premises may have come into contact; and

(iii)the location and movement of any animal or carcase which is or has been in his possession or charge.

(4)If, on completion of the enquiry, the veterinary inspector is of the opinion that there is an affected or a suspected animal, or the carcase of such an animal, on the premises, he shall serve a notice in Form A on the owner or person in charge of that animal or carcase.

(5)Subject to paragraph (6) below, a notice in Form A shall remain in force for a period of 28 days from the date specified in the notice unless—

(a)before or on the day on which the notice in Form A was due to expire, it is renewed for a further period of 28 days beginning with the day on which it would otherwise have expired by a further notice in writing served by a veterinary inspector on the owner or person in charge of such animal or carcase; or

(b)the animal or carcase to which the notice in Form A relates has been removed from the premises under the authority of a licence issued by a veterinary inspector.

(6)Any notice in Form A which has been renewed under paragraph (5)(a) above may be further renewed from time to time by a veterinary inspector in a similar manner and for a similar period.

(7)A notice in Form A may at any time be withdrawn by a notice in Form B served by a veterinary inspector on the owner or person in charge of the animal or carcase to which the notice in Form A relates.

(8)On the service of a notice in Form A the requirements contained in that notice shall have effect.

Article 7Restrictions on movement of other bovine animals#

(1)If a veterinary inspector has reasonable grounds for supposing that the movement from any premises of any bovine animal, other than an affected or suspected animal, may give rise to the risk of the spread of the disease, he may, by notice in writing served on the owner or person in charge of the animal, prohibit the movement of the animal from the premises, except under the authority of a licence issued by an officer of the appropriate Minister and in accordance with any conditions subject to which the licence is issued.

(2)A notice served under paragraph (1) above shall continue in force until withdrawn by a further notice in writing served by a veterinary inspector on the owner or person in charge of the animal to which the notice served under paragraph (1) relates.

Article 8Cleansing and disinfection#

(1)A veterinary inspector may serve on the occupier of any premises on which there is, or has within 56 days been, an affected or suspected animal, or the carcase of such an animal, a notice requiring him to cleanse and disinfect, at his own expense and in such a manner and within such period as may be specified in the notice—

(a)all or any part of the premises; or

(b)any equipment or any other thing used in connection with any such animal or carcase.

(2)If any person on whom a notice is served under paragraph (1) above fails to comply with the requirements of the notice, an inspector may, without prejudice to any proceedings arising out of such default, carry out or cause to be carried out the requirements of the notice, and the amount of any expenses reasonably incurred by the inspector in doing so shall be recoverable from the person in default by the appropriate Minister or the local authority, as the case may be.

Article 9Application of section 32 of the Act to the disease and notice of intended slaughter#

(1)Section 32 of the Act, which enables the Minister to cause animals to be slaughtered on account of disease, shall apply to the disease.

(2)Where the Minister proposes to cause an affected or suspected animal to be slaughtered under the powers conferred on him by section 32 of the Act in its application to the disease, a veterinary inspector shall serve a notice of intended slaughter in Form C on the owner or person in charge of the animal.

Article 10Seizure of carcases#

(1)For the purpose of preventing the spread of the disease an inspector may seize, destroy or dispose of any carcase.

(2)For the purpose of determining the amount of compensation payable by the Minister under section 36(1)(b) of the Act for a carcase seized under paragraph (1) of this article (being, in accordance with section 36(3) of the Act, its value at the time of seizure) the value of such carcase shall be ascertained in a similar manner to that in which the value of an animal or bird slaughtered, or liable to be slaughtered, under the Act is to be ascertained under the Diseases of Animals (Ascertainment of Compensation) Order 1959, and as if the references in that Order to an animal or bird included references to a carcase.

(3)Compensation shall be paid by the Minister for carcases affected with the disease being carcases seized for the purpose of preventing the spread of the disease.

Article 11Prohibition of sale, supply and use of milk from affected or suspected animals#

(1)Subject to paragraph (2) below, no person shall knowingly—

(a)sell or supply for human consumption or for feeding to an animal or poultry;

(b)use in the manufacture of any product for sale or supply for human consumption or for feeding to an animal or poultry; or

(c)feed to an animal or poultry,

any milk which he knows or has reason to suspect has been produced by an affected or a suspected animal.

(2)The prohibitions in paragraph (1) above shall not apply—

(a)to the feeding to its own calf of any milk produced by a cow; or

(b)to the feeding to an animal or poultry of any milk for research purposes in a research establishment under the authority of a licence issued by a veterinary inspector of the Minister and in accordance with any conditions subject to which the licence is issued, or to the sale or supply to a research establishment for such purposes.

Part III · Mammalian protein and mammalian meat and bone meal

Article 12Mammalian protein#

(1)Subject to paragraph (2) below, no person shall—

(a)knowingly sell or supply for feeding to ruminant animals any feeding stuff in which he knows or has reason to suspect that any mammalian protein has been incorporated;

(b)feed to a ruminant animal any feeding stuff in which he knows or has reason to suspect that any mammalian protein has been incorporated;

(2)The prohibitions in paragraph (1) above shall not apply to the feeding to an animal of any feeding stuff for research purposes in a research establishment under the authority of a licence issued by a veterinary inspector of the Minister and in accordance with any conditions subject to which the licence is issued, or to the sale or supply of any feeding stuff to a research establishment for such purposes.

Article 13Mammalian meat and bone meal#

(1)Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6) below, no person shall—

(a)sell or supply for incorporation into any feeding stuff for livestock any mammalian meat and bone meal;

(b)use any mammalian meat and bone meal in the production of any feeding stuff for livestock;

(c)sell or supply for feeding to livestock any feeding stuff in which any mammalian meat and bone meal has been incorporated; or

(d)feed to livestock any feeding stuff in which any mammalian meat and bone meal has been incorporated.

(2)Subject to paragraph (6) below, no person shall undertake any production using any mammalian meat and bone meal or any MBM product on premises where any feeding stuff for livestock is produced unless—

(a)the ingredients of the feeding stuff for livestock are stored, and the feeding stuff is produced and stored, in a separate building from that in which any mammalian meat and bone meal or MBM product is stored and used; and

(b)no equipment or vehicle used in the production of the feeding stuff for livestock comes into contact with any mammalian meat and bone meal, any MB product or any ingredient or equipment used with mammalian meat and bone meal or an MBM product.

(3)Subject to paragraphs (5) to (8) below, no person shall have in his possession any mammalian meat and bone meal or any MBM product on any premises where—

(a)any livestock is kept;

(b)any feeding stuff for livestock is produced; or

(c)any feeding stuff for livestock is stored but not produced.

(4)Subject to paragraphs (6) and (8) below, no person shall transport any mammalian meat and bone meal or any MBM product in any vehicle in which any feeding stuff for livestock is being transported.

(5)The prohibitions in paragraphs (1) and (3) above shall not apply to the feeding to an animal of any feeding stuff for research purposes in a research establishment under the authority of a licence issued by a veterinary inspector of the Minister and in accordance with any conditions subject to which the licence is issued, or to the sale or supply of any feeding stuff to a research establishment for such purposes or to the possession of a feeding stuff at such an establishment for such purposes.

(6)In any proceedings for an offence under paragraphs (1) to (4) above it shall be a defence for any person charged to prove—

(a)that he did not know or have reason to suspect that the material in question was mammalian meat and bone meal or contained mammalian meat and bone meal; and

(b)that he had taken all reasonable steps to ensure that it was not and did not contain mammalian meat and bone meal.

(7)In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (3)(a) or (c) above in relation to any MBM product it shall be a defence for any person charged to prove—

(a)in the case of an offence under paragraph (3)(a), that the MBM product was in his possession solely for feeding to a pet of a species which is not commonly used as livestock in the United Kingdom or to a working dog or for use as a fertiliser on a domestic garden or for house plants;

(b)in the case of an offence under paragraph (3)(c), that both the MBM product and the feeding stuff for livestock were offered for sale on those premises;

(c)that the MBM product was stored and used in a place which was physically separated from any place where feeding stuff for livestock was stored or to which such animals had access; and

(d)that adequate precautions were taken to ensure that no equipment used with the MBM product was used with the feeding stuff for livestock.

(8)In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (3)(a) or (c) or (4) above it shall be a defence for any person charged to prove that at all material times, both the mammalian meat and bone meal or MBM product (as the case may be) and the feeding stuff for livestock were securely packaged and that no spillage or leakage took place.

Article 14Cleansing and disinfection#

(1)Any person who produces mammalian meat and bone meal or any MBM product shall ensure the thorough cleansing and disinfection of any premises or equipment used for such production before they are used for any other purpose except the production of a fertiliser that is not for use on agricultural land within the meaning of the Fertilisers (Mammalian Meat and Bone Meal) Regulations 1996.

(2)Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4) below, any person who stores or transports mammalian meat and bone meal or an MBM product, or who makes any arrangement for such storage or transport, shall ensure the thorough cleaning and disinfection of any premises, vehicle or equipment used for such storage or transport as soon as possible after the storage or transport ceases and in any event before they are used for any other purpose.

(3)It shall be a defence for any person charged with an offence under paragraph (2) above to prove that at all material times the mammalian meat and bone meal or MBM product (as the case may be) was securely packaged and that no spillage or leakage took place.

(4)It shall be a defence for any person charged with an offence under paragraph (2) above by virtue of any arrangement made by him, to show that he took all reasonable steps to ensure that the premises, equipment or vehicle in question were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected in accordance with that paragraph.

(5)An inspector may serve on the occupier of any premises or on the owner or operator of any vehicle or equipment on or in which there is, or has within 56 days been—

(a)any mammalian meat and bone meal; or

(b)any MBM product,

a notice requiring him to cleanse and disinfect, at his own expense and in such a manner and within such period as may be specified in the notice, all or any part of the premises or vehicle or any equipment or any other thing used in connection with any such mammalian meat and bone meal or MBM product.

(6)If any person on whom a notice is served under paragraph (5) above fails to comply with the requirements of the notice, an inspector may, without prejudice to any proceedings arising out of such default, carry out or cause to be carried out the requirements of the notice, and the amount of any expenses reasonably incurred by the inspector in doing so shall be recoverable from the person in default by the appropriate Minister or the local authority, as the case may be.

Article 15Disposal and recall of mammalian meat and bone meal and MBM products#

(1)An inspector may serve on any person in whose possession mammalian meat and bone meal or any MBM product is found a notice requiring that person to dispose of the material, and any other material with which it has come into contact, in such manner and within such period as may be specified in the notice.

(2)An inspector may serve on any person who has sold or supplied any feeding stuff the sale or supply of which is prohibited by article 13(1) a notice requiring that person to collect at his own expense that product from the person to whom he supplied or sold it, or from such other person to whom it may have subsequently been supplied or sold, and to transport it to such place and within such time as may be specified in the notice.

(3)If any person on whom a notice is served under paragraph (1) or (2) above fails to comply with the requirements of the notice, an inspector may, without prejudice to any proceedings arising out of such default, carry out or cause to be carried out the requirements of the notice, and the amount of any expenses reasonably incurred by the inspector in doing so shall be recoverable from the person in default by the appropriate Minister or the local authority, as the case may be.

Article 16Records relating to mammalian meat and bone meal#

(1)Any person who consigns mammalian meat and bone meal shall keep for two years from the date of consignment (or, in the case of material produced outside the United Kingdom, for two years from the date on which it was imported into the UK) a record indicating—

(a)the date of consignment;

(b)the weight consigned;

(c)the destination of the consignment;

(d)the name and address of the consignee;

(e)the registration number of the vehicle in which the consignment is transported; and

(f)the name and address of the operator of that vehicle.

(2)Any person receiving a consignment of mammalian meat and bone meal shall keep for two years from the date of receipt of the consignment a record indicating—

(a)the date on which it was received;

(b)its weight on receipt;

(c)the place from which it was consigned;

(d)the name and address of the person by whom it was consigned;

(e)the registration number of the vehicle in which it was consigned; and

(f)the name and address of the operator of that vehicle.

(3)Any person receiving a consignment of mammalian meat and bone meal shall keep for two years from the date of any use, disposal or further consignment a record indicating—

(a)in the case of any use, details of each use, the weight of any part of the consignment incorporated into a product and the nature and date of manufacture of any such product;

(b)in the case of disposal, the weight disposed of, the date of such disposal, and the place in which, method by which and name of the person by whom it was disposed of; and

(c)in the case of further consignment, the information required by paragraph (1) above.

(4)Any person who controls a vehicle in which mammalian meat and bone meal is transported shall keep, for two years from the date on which transport of a particular consignment of such material commenced (or, in the case of an import, from the date on which that material entered the United Kingdom), a record of—

(a)the person and place from which that consignment was transported;

(b)the date on which it was collected from that person;

(c)its weight;

(d)the registration number, and the name and address of the driver, of the vehicle in which it was transported;

(e)the person and place to which it was to be or was delivered; and

(f)the date or intended date of delivery to that person.

(5)The driver of a vehicle in which a consignment of mammalian meat and bone meal is transported shall have a document recording the information required by paragraph (4) above in his possession at all times when he is in charge of that vehicle.

(6)In relation to a vehicle not having a registration number, the requirement to keep a record of the registration number pursuant to paragraphs (1)(e), (2)(e) and (4)(d) above shall be a requirement to keep such details as permit the identification of the vehicle in which the consignment was transported.

Part IV · Offences and enforcement

Article 17Sampling#

Where an inspector has reasonable grounds for supposing that any of the provisions of article 12 or 13 have not been or are not being complied with, he may take from any protein or feeding stuff such samples as he considers necessary in order to establish the correctness of that supposition.

Article 18Production of licences#

Where an animal or carcase is being moved under the authority of a licence issued under this Order the person in charge of the animal or carcase being so moved shall carry the licence during the authorised movement and shall, on demand made by an inspector or by a member of a police force, produce the licence and allow a copy or extract to be taken, and shall also, on such demand, furnish his name and address.

Article 19Offences#

Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, proof of which shall lie on him—

(a)defaces, obliterates or removes any mark applied to any bovine animal or carcase under article 6(2)(c);

(b)contravenes or fails to comply with article 5(1), (2) or (3), 6(3), 11(1), 12(1), 13(1), (2), (3) or (4), 14(1) or (2), 16(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) or 18;

(c)fails to comply with any notice served under article 6(4), 7(1), 8(1), 14(5) or 15(1) or (2);

(d)fails to comply with any condition of a licence issued under article 6(5)(b), 7(1), 11(2)(b), 12(2) or 13(5); or

(e)knowingly causes or permits any such contravention or non-compliance,

commits an offence against the Act.

Article 20Enforcement#

The provisions of this Order shall, except where otherwise provided, he executed and enforced by the local authority.

Article 21Revocation#

The following instruments are hereby revoked—

(a)the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1991; and

(b)the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Amendment) Order 1996.

Schedule

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Defined terms · 19

Show every defined term

affected animal
means a bovine animal which is affected with the disease;
bovine animal
means a bull, cow, steer, heifer or calf;
feeding stuff
has the meaning given by section 66(1) of the Agriculture Act 1970;
fertiliser
has the meaning given by section 66(1) of the Agriculture Act 1970;
livestock
means any creature, including a fish, kept for production of food, wool, skin or fur, any creature other than a dog kept for use in the farming of land and any equine animal;
mammalian meat and bone meal
means mammalian protein derived from the whole or part of any dead mammal by rendering, or, in the case of an imported product, by an equivalent process;
market
means a market, fairground, sale-yard or any other place where bovine animals are commonly exposed for sale;
premises
means all contiguous land and buildings occupied by a person, together with other land or buildings occupied by that person which use equipment in common with the contiguous land or buildings;
production
includes the manufacture, mixing or packaging of any product, together with ancillary storage and transport operations;
protein
means any proteinaceous material which is derived from a carcase but does not include— (a) milk or any milk product;
rendering
has the meaning given in the Animal By-Products Order 1992;
research establishment
means an establishment carrying out research into the disease;
sell
includes have in possession for sale and offer or expose for sale;
slaughterhouse
means any building, premises or place for slaughtering animals, the flesh of which is intended for sale for human consumption, and includes any place available in connection with such a place for the confinement of animals while awaiting slaughter there;
suspected animal
means a bovine animal which is suspected of being affected with the disease;
the Act
means the Animal Health Act 1981;
the disease
means bovine spongiform encephalopathy;
the Divisional Veterinary Manager
means the veterinary inspector appointed for the time being by the Minister to receive information about affected or suspected animals, or the carcases of such animals, for the area in which such animals or carcases are;
veterinary surgeon
means a person registered in the register of veterinary surgeons or in the supplementary veterinary register.

Article 1Title and commencement#

Article 2Extension of definition of “disease”#

Article 3Extension of definitions of “animals” and “poultry”#

Article 4Interpretation#

Article 5Notification of disease in bovine animals#

Article 6Veterinary enquiry as to existence of disease and requirements relating to affected or suspected animals#

Article 7Restrictions on movement of other bovine animals#

Article 8Cleansing and disinfection#

Article 9Application of section 32 of the Act to the disease and notice of intended slaughter#

Article 10Seizure of carcases#

Article 11Prohibition of sale, supply and use of milk from affected or suspected animals#

Article 12Mammalian protein#

Article 13Mammalian meat and bone meal#

Article 14Cleansing and disinfection#

Article 15Disposal and recall of mammalian meat and bone meal and MBM products#

Article 16Records relating to mammalian meat and bone meal#

Article 17Sampling#

Article 18Production of licences#

Article 19Offences#

Article 20Enforcement#

Article 21Revocation#

Defined terms · 19

Key facts

Connections

History · 1 version

Article 1Title and commencement#

Article 2Extension of definition of “disease”#

Article 3Extension of definitions of “animals” and “poultry”#

Article 4Interpretation#

Article 5Notification of disease in bovine animals#

Article 6Veterinary enquiry as to existence of disease and requirements relating to affected or suspected animals#

Article 7Restrictions on movement of other bovine animals#

Article 8Cleansing and disinfection#

Article 9Application of section 32 of the Act to the disease and notice of intended slaughter#

Article 10Seizure of carcases#

Article 11Prohibition of sale, supply and use of milk from affected or suspected animals#

Article 12Mammalian protein#

Article 13Mammalian meat and bone meal#

Article 14Cleansing and disinfection#

Article 15Disposal and recall of mammalian meat and bone meal and MBM products#

Article 16Records relating to mammalian meat and bone meal#

Article 17Sampling#

Article 18Production of licences#

Article 19Offences#

Article 20Enforcement#

Article 21Revocation#