Bovine Diseases (Levies) (Amendment) Act, 1996

Alteration of penalties relating to offences under sections 48 and 49 of the Act of 1966.

7.—(1) A person convicted of an offence under the Act of 1966 for which a penalty is provided for in section 23 of the Principal Act shall, in lieu of that penalty—

(a) on summary conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding £1,500, or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such term of imprisonment,

(b) on conviction on indictment, be liable—

(i) in case such person is so convicted by reason of his having—

(I) in contravention of an order of the Minister under the Act of 1966, interfered with or removed an ear-tag, or

(II) altered or falsely made or ante-dated or counterfeited, or offered or uttered, knowing it to have been altered or falsely made or ante-dated or counterfeited, a licence, declaration, certificate or instrument described in section 49 (1) (d) of the Act of 1966,

to a fine not exceeding £10,000, or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such term of imprisonment,

(ii) in case such person is otherwise so convicted, to a fine not exceeding £5,000, or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such term of imprisonment.

(2) This section shall come into operation on such day as may be fixed therefor by order of the Minister.