SANITARY LAW 401 



EXPORTATION OF HORSES. 



DISEASES OF ANIMALS ACT, 1910. EXPORTATION OK HORSES ORDER, 1910. 

 EXPORTATION OF HORSES ACT, 1914. 



The Diseases of Animals Act, 1910, amends the Diseases of Animals Acts, 

 1894 to 1909, in respect of the exportation and shipment of horses. It prohibits 

 the shipment of any horse from any port in Great Britain to any port outside 

 the British Isles, unless immediately before shipment the horse has been examined 

 by a V.I. and has been certified by him to be capable of being conveyed to such 

 port and disembarked without cruelty. The 1914 Act here adds and to be 

 capable of being worked without suffering. If any horse examined under this Act 

 shall be found by the V.I. to be in such a physical condition that it is cruel to keep 

 it alive (the 1914 Act here adds, or to be permanently incapable of being worked 

 without suffering) the inspector may, without the consent of the owner, cause 

 it to be slaughtered. For the purpose of identification the V.I. may mark 

 horses for which he has given a certificate. If an animal is seriously injured 

 or has a limb broken on a ship the master must cause it to be slaughtered. 

 This Act does not apply to any thoroughbred horse certified by a steward or 

 secretary of the Jockey Club to have arrived in Great Britain not more than 

 one month before the date of shipment for the purpose of being run in a race; 

 or to be shipped for the purpose of being run in a race; or to be shipped in 

 order to be used for breeding purposes. 



The Exportation of Horses Order of 1910 exempts from veterinary ex- 

 amination any horse, ass .or mule shipped to any port which is not in Europe ; 

 or any horse, ass or mule intended for breeding, racing or exhibition, or of 

 which the Board are satisfied, regard being had to its value and the purpose 

 for which it is exported, that a veterinary examination is unnecessary provided 

 that -a permit is obtained for its shipment from the Board. A fee is charged 

 for the examination of horses prior to shipment. 



RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919. 



This is an Act to make further provision for the destruction of rats and mice. 



Any person who may fail to take necessary and reasonable steps for the 

 destruction of rats and mice on any land of which he is the occupier, or for pre- 

 venting such land from becoming infested with rats and mice, is liable to a 

 penalty. The Act is to be enforced by local authorities and the port sanitary 

 authorities. 



A local authority having power to enforce this Act may give instructions 

 as to the most effective methods that can be adopted for the destruction of rats 

 and mice. If an occupier of any land fails to fulfil the obligations of the Act, 

 the L.A. may serve a notice on him to take the required steps, or, after not less 

 than 24 hours' notice, may take the necessary action themselves and recover 

 expenses from the occupier. The L.A. should, as far as possible, secure collective 

 action for the destruction of the rats and mice. The L.A. may delegate their 

 powers to a committee, and may appoint an officer to act as an inspector to see 

 that the occupiers of land are taking the action required of them. 



This Act applies to a vessel as if the vessel were land and the master the 

 occupier. The master may be required to take steps to prevent the escape of 

 rats and mice from his ship. 



This Act applies to Scotland and Ireland as well as to England, with some 

 modifications concerning its administration. 



FOREIGN HAY AND STRAW ORDER OF 1912, el seq. 



Prohibits the landing in Great Britain of hay or straw from any country 

 out of the United Kingdom which is not mentioned in a Schedule (the Schedule 

 varies from time to time), with the following exceptions : Hay or straw which 

 at the time of importation is being used for packing merchandise; or, manu- 

 factured straw not intended for use as fodder or litter for animals; or, hay or 

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