Statutory Rule 1999 No. 326

Welfare of Animals (Staging Points) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

---

© Crown Copyright 1999

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland printed from this website are printed under the superintendence and authority of the Controller of HMSO being the Government Printer for Northern Ireland.

The legislation contained on this web site is subject to Crown Copyright protection. It may be reproduced free of charge provided that it is reproduced accurately and that the source and copyright status of the material is made evident to users.

It should be noted that the right to reproduce the text of Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland does not extend to the Government Printer for Northern Ireland imprints which should be removed from any copies of the Statutory Rule which are issued or made available to the public. This includes reproduction of the Statutory Rule on the Internet and on intranet sites. The Royal Arms may be reproduced only where they are an integral part of the original document.

The text of this Internet version of the Statutory Rule which is published by the Government Printer for Northern Ireland has been prepared to reflect the text as it was Made. A print version is also available and is published by The Stationery Office Limited as the Welfare of Animals (Staging Points) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 , ISBN 0 33 793685 4. The print version may be purchased by clicking here. Braille copies of this Statutory Rule can also be purchased at the same price as the print edition by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0870 600 5522 or e-mail:customer.services@tso.co.uk.

Further information about the publication of legislation on this website can be found by referring to the Frequently Asked Questions.

To ensure fast access over slow connections, large documents have been segmented into "chunks". Where you see a "continue" button at the bottom of the page of text, this indicates that there is another chunk of text available.

"the Council Regulation" means Council Regulation (EC) No. 1255/97[3] (concerning Community criteria for staging points and amending the route plan referred to in the Annex to Council Directive 91/628/EEC[4]);

"Department" means the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland; and

"inspector" means any person appointed as such by the Department.

    (2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954[5] shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

    (3) Any other expression which is also used in the Council Regulation shall have the same meaning as in the Council Regulation.

    (4) A notice served on any person under these Regulations - 

(a) shall be in writing;

(b) may be made subject to such conditions as are specified therein; and

(c) may be amended, suspended or revoked by a further notice in writing served on the same person at any time.

Approval of staging points
     3.  - (1) The Department shall be the competent authority for the purposes of Articles 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 4.2 and 6.1 of the Council Regulation.

    (2) An approval of a staging point for the purposes of the Council Regulation, and any suspension, revocation or restoration of such an approval, shall be by notice.

Powers of an inspector
     4.  - (1) Where a notice has been served suspending or revoking an approval to a staging point and there are animals resting at the staging point, an inspector may serve a notice on the person appearing to him to be running the staging point requiring that person to take such action, as may be specified in the notice and which the inspector reasonably considers is necessary to protect the welfare of the animals at the staging point.

    (2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), an inspector may, under a notice served under that paragraph, in particular - 

(a) require all or some of the animals at the staging point to which the notice relates to be removed from the staging point; or

(b) specify conditions under which animals may remain at the staging point for the remainder of their rest period.

    (3) If any person on whom a notice has been served under paragraph (1) fails to comply with the requirements imposed on him under the notice, an inspector may, without prejudice to any proceedings arising out of such default, carry out those requirements himself or cause them to be carried out, and the cost of such action shall be recoverable from the person on whom the notice was served on demand by the Department.

Powers of entry and inspection
     5.  - (1) An inspector shall, on producing, if required to do so, a duly authenticated document showing his authority, have the right at all reasonable hours to - 

(a) enter any land, building or other place for the purpose of ascertaining whether the provisions of these Regulations, the provisions of any approval or the conditions of any notice have been or are being complied with; and

(b) carry out such inspections, inquiries or examinations as may be necessary for that purpose.

    (2) The occupier of any land, building or other place or any person in his employment shall render such reasonable assistance to an inspector as the inspector may require for the purpose of facilitating the exercise of his powers under paragraph (1).

Offences
     6.  - (1) The owner or any person running a staging point who - 

(a) operates the staging point in contravention of Article 1.2 of the Council Regulation (requiring staging points to comply with the Community criteria for staging points);

(b) unless it has been approved under Article 4.2 of the Council Regulation, uses the staging point, in contravention of Article 4.1 of the Council Regulation (providing for the exclusive use of staging points for the accommodation of animals passing through them);

(c) where it is approved under Annex 4.2 of the Council Regulation, uses it in contravention of paragraphs (a) to (c) of that paragraph;

(d) contravenes Article 4.3 of the Council Regulation (relating to the health status of animals present at staging points);

(e) contravenes Article 5 of the Council Regulation (relating to the operation of staging points);

(f) causes or permits any of the above; or

(g) causes or permits the removal of any animal in contravention of Article 6.1 of the Regulation (requiring an official veterinarian or veterinarian designated by the competent authority to confirm on the route plan that the animal is fit to travel),

shall be guilty of an offence.

    (2) Any person who contravenes a requirement imposed on him under a notice served on him by an inspector under regulation 4(1) without reasonable excuse shall be guilty of an offence.

    (3) Any person who intentionally obstructs an inspector acting in the execution of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence.

    (4) Any person who is guilty of an offence under this regulation shall be liable - 

(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both;

(b) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.

Amendment of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997
     7. The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997[6] shall be amended by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph 4 in Part I of Schedule 7 - 

     " 4A. Unless it is taken at the place of destination, the 24 hour rest period referred to in paragraph 4 shall be taken at a staging point approved under Council Regulation (EC) No. 1255/97).".

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture on

L.S.

L. McKibben
Assistant Secretary

15th July 1999.

[2] 1972 c. 68; section 2 is subject to Schedule 2 to that Act and is to be read with S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3) and S.I. 1994/2795 (N.I. 15)back

[3] O.J. No. L174, 2.7.97, p. 1back

[4] O.J. No. L340, 11.12.91, p. 17back

[5] 1954 c. 33 (N.I.)back

[6] S.R. 1997 No. 346back