QUARANTINE REGULATINS FOR SHEEP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5489, 14 February 1896, Page 4

QUARANTINE REGULATINS FOR SHEEP.

, — ♦ •' ; The /following is the circular with, reference to quarantine regulations referred to at .the . meeting of the Canterbury A. and P. Association yesterday :— 1 NATIONAL SHEEPBBEEDERB' ASSOCIATION. Suggested regulations as proposed to the Australasian Governments, in lieu of those at present in: force with regard to the importation 'of/ sheep. Drawn up by the council of the National Sheepbreeders' Association of England, after careful inquiry from the leading veterinary surgeons, &c., and from the leading shipowners, -who have in effect agreed therewith.. - .■■• ••■••-. • ' ■■ * DECLARATION TO BE SWOBN BY OWNER OB HIS AGENT. 1. That the sheep to be exported have not suffered from sheep-scab or any other infectious disease whatsoever for a period of six months previous to leaving the farm, and that there has been no infectious disease on the said farm during the previous six months. . 2. That the sheep have not b?en in contact with' any sheep affected with sheepscab or any other infectious or contagious disease for a period of six months previous to leaving the farm. '■'• , ; 3. That the sheep have been conveyed' from the farm to the station in properly disinfected vehicles, and that, they have travelled direct from the station they started from without transhipment in properly disinfected vehicles to the port of embarkation... '•; .. ■ . ; ■ VBTBBINABY CEBTWIOATES. . 4. That the sheep shall- be accompanied by a certificate from the duly appointed veterinary inspector of the district; certifying that he has personally examined the said sheep, and that they are free from any indications of sheeprscab or any other contagious or infectious disease whatsoever. 5. That they- be examined and be certified -to be free from indications of any contagious or infections disease at the time of shipment by a veterinary surgeon appointed by the Agent-General of the colony in London for that purpose. . . ; CONDITION OF CONVEYANCE BY SHIP. 6: That they must be conveyed on a vessel carrying no live sheep' other than those being imported into the colonies under these regulations. . , ; PT.B. — 33ns precludes the carrying of anylive; sheep for consumption .during ' the voyage.] ...... ■'• . ' ABBIVAt AT POBT OP DEBABKATION. I 7. On arrival at port of debarkation the sheep to be forthwith inspected by the duly appointed veterinary surgeon and inspector before leaving the ship, and if all the sheep on board are found free from any /indications of disease, and no outbreak of disease has taken place on the voyage, the same Bhall be forthwith dipped, washed, and disinfected as the veterinary surgeon and inspector or other duly appointed authorities shall direct, and landed subject to a quarantine of not more than fourteen days. . 8. That in case of an outbreak of disease on the voyage, such further period of quarantine shall be imposed as the duly appointed colonial authorities shall direct. 9. In anycase> no carcase nor any portion of any carcase of any sheep, nor the skin, Mead, feet, or entrails of any sheep that may die or have to be killed on the voyage, nor any fodder, fittings, or litter that have been used by, or have been in contact, or likely to have been in contact with the sheep, shall, be allowed to be landed or to fall or be thrown overboard from any vessel in any river, port or harbour, or in any other waters of the colony without the permission of an inspector, but shall be burnt or otherwise disposed of as the inspector in writing shall direct. GENERAL. 10. It is suggested that in any case when the sheep exported be entered in any of the flock books of the various registered and incorporated sheepbrdeders' associations, the same be accompanied with the official export certificate of the society or association, duly signed by the secretary. These regulations, if adopted, will, in the opinion of the committee, very much increase the safeguards against introduction

of disease into tiie colonies to which they are applied. , \ '< The present colonial regulations which the proposed suggestions would alter ! require : — BEFORE BHIPMENT. 1. For Tasmania, South Australia, and Victoria, certificate of owner that the sheep have been free from disease for sixty days, and that they have not been in contact with animals affected with contagious disease for a like period. , ! For New South Wales and New Zealand, for a period of six months as above. For Queensland, the certificate of the owner that they are free from disease. For Western Australia, certificate of i the inspector at the place of shipment that they are free from disease. AT SHIPMENT AND ON BOARD SHIP. 2. And general to all the colonies, certificates that the animals shipped for export, as well as all on board, are free from disease. AT LANDING. 3. Four of the colonies require sixty days' and three ninety days' quarantine on In place of the abovethe suggested alterations would provide : — • BEFORE SHIPMENT. (a) That the sheep shall have been free from disease for six months, and that they have not been in contact with any diseased animals for that period, (b) That there has been no infectious disease on the said farm during the previous six months. "■- --(c) That they have been' conveyed, in a properly disinfected, ; vehicle: - t6 the station, and' thence ..to, '.port - "of shipment in properly,d]siniectedtiucks without transhipment (d) That the owner or his, agent shall make a sworn declaration to the foregoing effect. ' '"'•- ' '"" : '•■ •'■ (c) That the veterinary officer appointed for the district from which the sheep start, shall also certify that he has personally examined the said sheep, . and that they are free from all indica- , tions of disease. (/) That when the sheep exported belohg to members of the various registered and incorporatedflock book associations they shall be with the | official export certificate of the society j or association to which the 1 owners belong, signed by the secretary. ' |, AT SHIPMENT AND ON BOARD. (a) That the sheep beexamined at the place of shipment, and be certified to be free from any indications of any contagious or infectious disease by a veterinary surgeon, appointed by the AgentGeneral of the colony in London ,for that purpose. ' : (6) That an undertaking be given by the shipowners shipping the said sheep that no live sheep other than those being imported into the colony under these regulations shall be conveyed by the same vessel. ; AT LANDING. ; (a) That if at the termination of .the voyage all stock on board the said vessel are found upon inspection by the proper appointed veterinary officer to be free from all indications of disease, and that no outbreak of disease has taken place on the voyage the sheep be forthwith landed subject to a quarantine of not more than fourteen days. (b) That if an outbreak ,of disease takes place on the voyage the quarantine shall be for such a period as the duly! j appointed colonial authorities shall direct. ~; I (c). That the present period 6f quarantine/ ; .which is for four colonies sixty- days, and , for "three ninety- days, ; -be ' reduced to a uniform period of . quarantine for not more than fourteen days. It will be seen that the general effect of the proposed regulations, if adopted, would be to make the period of the voyage an effective period of quarantine, while at the same time they would secure even stricter safeguards against any possible shipment of diseased or infected sheep.