S.I. No. 68/2001 - The Foot and Mouth (Restriction on Movement of Horses) Order 2001

I, Joe Walsh, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 3 and 13 of the Diseases of Animals, Act, 1966 (No 6 of 1966) hereby order as follows:

1.   This Order may be cited as the Foot and Mouth (Restriction on Movement of Horses) Order 2001

2.   In this Order -

“animal” means a horse

“other animals” means members of the bovine, ovine, caprine, or porcine species or any other biungulates;

3.   With effect from 8 March 2001 the transport by road of an animal to which this Order relates shall be prohibited save under permit issued or caused to be issued by the Minister and for the following purposes:

(a) Foaling

(b) Breeding

(c) Emergency Veterinary Procedures that cannot be undertaken at current location of the horse/horses

(d) Import / Export of horses, save for the import / export of horses from / to countries or regions in which the movement of horses is prohibited

(e) Other exceptional reasons approved by the Minister.

4.   Where a permit has been granted for the purposes of this Order by, or on behalf of the Minister, the person who is in charge of the animal to which the permit relates shall have the permit in his possession while the animal is being transported.

5.   In case a condition attached to a permit granted for the purposes of this Order specifies a place to which animals are to be moved, the animals to which the permit relates shall, save as may be otherwise provided by the condition, forthwith be moved directly to that place and shall, while in transit thereto, neither be detained with nor be allowed to mix with other animals.

6.   A person transporting an animal under permit issued, pursuant to this Order, shall, on demand made by a member of the Garda Siochana or an authorised person produce it for inspection by such member or authorised person.

7.   Where a person is seen or found committing, or is reasonably suspected of being engaged in committing, an offence under this Order, a member of the Garda Siochana may without warrant stop and detain him; and, if his name and the address are not known to that member, and that person fails to give them to the satisfaction of the member, the member may without warrant arrest him; and the member may, whether so stopping or detaining or apprehending the person or not, stop, detain, and examine any animal to which the offence or suspected offence relates.

8.   If any person obstructs or impedes or assists to obstruct or impede a member of the Garda Siochana in the execution of this Order the member may without warrant arrest the offender.

9.   Where an animal to which this Order applies is moved other than in accordance with the provisions of this Order a member of the Garda Siochana may seize, detain and arrange for slaughter of the animal in consultation with the Minister.

10. A person in breach of this Order shall be guilty of an offence.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

The Order restricts the transport of horses save under permit to prevent the spreading of foot and mouth disease. This is with effect from 8 March, 2001.