Transport of Farm Animals Bill
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A
B I L L
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Make provision with respect to the welfare of farm animals exported from Great Britain; to require Ministers to lay before Parliament proposals for ending the export of live farm animals and the transport of such animals over long distances; and for connected purposes.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-
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| Interpretation. |
1. In this Act-
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"Council Directive 91/628/EEC" means Council Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport; |
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"lamb" means any domestic animal of the ovine species aged less than 6 months; |
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"the 1981 Order" means the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981; |
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"the 1995 Regulations" means the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 1995; |
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"the 1997 Order" means the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997; |
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"the Minister" and "the Ministers" have the meanings given in the Animal Health Act 1981. |
| Competence of persons accompanying vertebrate animals. |
2. - (1) In paragraph (2) of article 9 of the 1997 Order, for "(5)" there is substituted "(5A)".
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(2) In paragraph (4) of article 9 of the 1997 Order, for the words "using a method" there is substituted the words "by an independent assessor".
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(3) After paragraph (5) of article 9 of the 1997 Order there is inserted the following new paragraph-
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"(5A) An independent assessor approved by the Minister for the purposes of paragraph (4) above shall not for those purposes assess any person who is his employee, servant or agent.".
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| Suspension or revocation of authorisation. |
3. - (1) After paragraph (4) of article 12 of the 1997 Order there is inserted the following new paragraph-
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"(4A) In the case of a transporter authorised by the Minister, if the Minister is satisfied that repeated infringements have taken place against this Order or any other legislation implementing Council Directive 91/628/EEC in a country other than the United Kingdom, or that a single such infringement has taken place which involves serious suffering to an animal, the Minister shall revoke or suspend for a period of not less than 6 months the transporter's authorisation unless, having regard to the circumstances of the case, he believes that such a revocation or suspension would be unreasonable.".
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| Offences. |
4. At the end of article 21 of the 1997 Order there is added the words "and is liable in the court's discretion to imprisonment for any term not exceeding 3 months in lieu of any fine to which he may otherwise be liable.".
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