Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (Scotland) Order 2013 (SSI 2013/3)
The drafting of the order appears to be defective. Articles 9 to 12 purport to place requirements on a keeper of a breeding bovine animal that is not part of a herd to take and submit to approved laboratories samples to test for bovine viral diarrhoea virus. However, article 11(2) specifies sampling requirements only in relation to breeding herds. Accordingly, the order does not implement the policy intention that sampling requirements should also be specified for animals that are not part of herds.
I declare an interest in this regard and say how very important it is that such testing is done. I welcome the Government’s intention to amend the order forthwith.
That was my next point. Does the committee agree to note that the Scottish Government has laid an amending instrument to remedy the defective drafting? Those provisions will come into force on 9 February 2013, together with the provisions in the order.