Declaration of infected place

(1) Where pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of regulation 3 of these Regulations, the Chief Agricultural Officer receives such information or has reasonable grounds for suspecting that foot and mouth disease exists, or has within fifty-six days existed, on any premises, he shall forthwith cause a notice in the Form A in the Schedule to these Regulations to be served on the occupier of any premises whereon such animal is or with respect to which such suspicion exists. Form A. Schedule. 554 (2) Upon service of such notice the place therein specified shall become an infected place subject to confirmation or otherwise by the Minister under the provisions of the Act, and the Chief Agricultural Officer shall immediately cause an inspector to proceed to the place to which such notice refers, and there make a full investigation of all the circumstances; and such inspector shall forthwith report thereon to the Chief Agricultural Officer, who shall submit a report to the Minister, provided that the Chief Agricultural Officer may at any time within twenty-one days of such service, and before such confirmation or otherwise, withdraw such notice and thereupon such place shall cease to be an infected place. (3) For the purposes of his enquiries an inspector may enter on any part of the premises, and he may take therefrom any specimen he may require for the purposes of analysis, and the occupier of the premises and persons in his employment shall render such reasonable assistance to such inspector as may be required. (4) Every inspector before entering any premises in which foot and mouth disease exists or is suspected to exist shall put on suitable boots and overall clothing which are capable of being disinfected, and immediately before leaving such premises thoroughly disinfect his boots, overall clothing and hands.