Diseases of Animals Act, 1966

Offences punishable in all cases by fine or imprisonment.

49.—(1) If a person does any of the following things, he shall be guilty of an offence—

(a) if, with intent to evade this Act or an order of the Minister or a regulation of a local authority, he does anything for which a licence is requisite under this Act or an order of the Minister or a regulation of a local authority, without having obtained a licence; or

(b) if, where a licence is requisite, having obtained a licence, he, with the like intent, does the thing licensed after the licence has expired; or

(c) if he uses or offers or attempts to use as such a licence an instrument not being a complete licence, or an instrument untruly purporting or appearing to be a licence, unless he shows to the satisfaction of the court that he did not know of that incompleteness or untruth and that he could not with reasonable diligence have obtained knowledge thereof; or

(d) if he alters or falsely makes or antedates or counterfeits or offers or utters, knowing it to be altered, or falsely made or ante-dated or counterfeited, a licence, declaration, certificate, or instrument made or issued, or purporting to be made or issued, under or for any purpose of this Act or of an order of the Minister or a regulation of a local authority; or

(e) if, for the purpose of obtaining a licence, certificate or instrument, he makes a declaration or statement false in any material particular, unless he shows to the satisfaction of the court; that he did not know of that falsity and that he could not with reasonable diligence have obtained knowledge thereof; or

(f) if he obtains or endeavours to obtain such a licence, certificate or instrument by means of a false pretence, unless he shows to the satisfaction of the court that he did not know of that falsity, and that he could not with reasonable diligence have obtained knowledge thereof; or

(g) if he grants or issues such a licence, certificate or instrument, being false in any date or other material particular, unless he shows to the satisfaction of the court that he did not know of that falsity, and that he could not with reasonable diligence have obtained knowledge thereof, or if he grants or issues such a licence, certificate or instrument, having and knowing that he has no lawful authority to grant or issue it; or

(h) if, with intent to evade or defeat this Act or an order of the Minister, or a regulation of a local authority, he grants or issues an instrument being in form a licence, certificate or instrument made or issued under this Act or an order of the Minister or a regulation of a local authority, for permitting or regulating the movement of a particular animal or bird or the doing of any other particular thing, but being issued in blank, that is to say, not being before the issue thereof so filled up as to specify any particular animal or thing; or

(i) if he uses or offers or attempts to use for any purpose of this Act or of an order of the Minister or of a regulation of a local authority, an instrument so issued in blank, unless he shows to the satisfaction of the court that he did not know of it having been so issued in blank, and that he could not with reasonable diligence have obtained knowledge thereof; or

(j) if he by means of any fraud or false pretence obtains or attempts to obtain, compensation from the Minister in respect of an animal or bird slaughtered or of a carcase or eggs destroyed, or aids or abets any person in any such fraud or false pretence; or

(k) if, without lawful authority or excuse, proof whereof shall lie on him, he digs up, or causes to be dug up, a carcase buried under the direction of the Minister or of a local authority or of a receiver of wreck; or

(l) if, where the Minister has by order prohibited, absolutely or conditionally, the use for the carrying of animals or birds or for any purpose connected therewith of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft or pen or other place, he without lawful authority or excuse, proof whereof shall lie on him, does anything so prohibited.

(2) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months.