Rabies (Control) Order 1974 (S.I. No. 2212 of 1974).

This order is made under various provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act 1950. as amended and extended by the Rabies Act 1974. The Order makes rabies a disease for the purposes of section 17 of the Diseases of Animals Act 1950 and thus empowers the Minister to slaughter animals on account of that disease. The Order applies mammals which live on land (domesticated or wild, or living in captivity or not), and it imposes a duty on any person who knows or suspects that such an animal is suffering from rabies to report the fact to the authorities. An inspector may declare premises to be an infected place, and the effect of such a notice is to impose severe restrictions with respect to persons and animals at the premises. A veterinary inspector of the Ministry shall carry out an inquiry and may remove animals and carcases for veterinary investigation. The Minister may declare an area to be an infected area for the purpose of controlling the disease. Such an area may be divided into zones, and the Minister may apply different controls in different zones. In respect of all infected areas, the Minister may arrange for the destruction of foxes which are not held in captivity An Order to this effect also permits a veterinary inspector of the Ministry to prohibit any sporting or recreational activity on land within an infected area where he considers that the holding of the activity would give rise to the danger of rabies being spread.