Compensation

(1) The Minister may award compensation for the compulsory slaughter of any healthy animal under the provisions of this Act or of any Regulations made thereunder. (2) It shall be lawful for the Minister, out of moneys voted for that purpose by the National Assembly, to make grants by way of compensation to occupiers and owners, according to their respective interests, in respect of healthy animals destroyed in order to achieve eradication, control or to prevent the further spread of a notifiable animal disease or quarantine pest. (3) The amount of any such compensation shall not exceed the value of the animal immediately before slaughter, and Belize Agricultural Health Authority [CAP. 211 41 compensation may be reduced or refused where the owner or the person having charge of the animal has, in the opinion of the Minister, been guilty in relation to the animal, of an offence against this Act, or any Regulations made thereunder. (4) No compensation shall be payable in respect of any animal compulsorily slaughtered when in a quarantine depot if, in the opinion of the Authority, such animal was diseased at the time of importation.