S.L. 437.109 Art. 9Holdings placed under official control.

(1) Where the official veterinarian has reason to suspect that poultry on any holding may have been contaminated as a result of the movement of persons, animals or vehicles or in any other way, that holding shall be placed under official control in accordance with sub-rule (2).

(2) The purpose of the official control shall be to detect immediately any suspicion of Newcastle disease, count the poultry and monitor their movements and, where appropriate, to take the action provided for in sub-rule (3).

(3) When a holding is subject to official control under sub-rules (1) and (2), the competent authority shall prohibit removal of poultry from the holding other than for transport directly to a slaughterhouse under official supervision for the purpose of immediate slaughter. Before granting such authorisation, the official veterinarian must have carried out a clinical examination of all the poultry to exclude presence of Newcastle disease on the holding. The movement restrictions referred to in this rule shall be imposed for a period of twenty-one (21) days from the latest date of potential contamination; however, such restrictions must apply for a period of at least seven (7) days.

(4) Where it considers that conditions permit, the competent authority may limit the measures provided for in this rule to a part of the holding and to the poultry contained therein, provided that the poultry there have been housed, kept and fed completely separately by separate staff.

(5) Where the official veterinarian has reason to suspect racing pigeons or any pigeon house of being contaminated by the Newcastle disease virus, he shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that the pigeon house is subject to restrictions, including a ban on all movement of racing pigeons outside the pigeon house for twenty-one

(21) days.