S.L. 437.58 Art. 23Impounded animals.

(1) During the period in which animals are impounded as provided for in rule 17, animals from the farm in question may not leave the farm of origin or be handed over to any other person except under official control. The competent authority shall take appropriate precautionary measures in accordance with the nature of the substance or substances identified.

(2) After sampling has been carried out in accordance with rule 17, if there is confirmation of a case of illegal treatment, the animal or animals found to be positive shall be slaughtered immediately on the spot or taken immediately to the designated slaughterhouse or to the knacker’s yard under cover of an official veterinary certificate in order to be slaughtered there. Animals so slaughtered shall be sent to a high-risk processing plant as defined by Directive 90/667/EEC. In addition, samples must be taken at the farm’s expense from the entire batch of animals belonging to the farm at which checks were carried out and which may be suspect.

(3) However, if half or more of the samples taken by representative sampling in accordance with rule 17 are positive, the farmer may be left a choice between a check on all the animals present on the farm which may be suspect, or slaughter of these animals.

(4) For a further period of at least twelve months, any farm belonging to the same owner shall be subject to more stringent checks for the residues in question. Where an organized system of selfmonitoring has been set up, this facility shall be withdrawn from the farmer for that period.

(5) In view of the infringement recorded, the farms or establishments supplying the holding concerned shall be subject to checks in addition to those provided for in rule 11(1) to determine the origin of the substance in question. The same shall apply to all farms and establishments in the same supply chain of animals and animal feed as the farm of origin or departure.