Disease Control (England) Order 2003
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- The Crown Estate, Crown Estate Scotland, Food Standards Scotland, APHA, Forestry Commission, Natural England
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 9 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides
What you must do
9 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Equipment and safety 1
Provide cleansing and disinfection facilities for incoming animals
If your business receives animals that are being moved under a licence, you must have suitable cleaning and disinfection facilities, equipment and supplies on site for the vehicles that bring the animals. You need to set up wash stations, provide disinfectants and keep them ready to use as required by the licence before the animals arrive.
Management duties 7
Control animal movements to and from slaughterhouses
You must only move animals to a slaughterhouse if they are being taken for slaughter and you do so within 48 hours of the animals arriving there. If you receive any animal from a slaughterhouse (except pigs), you must have a licence from a veterinary inspector before taking them in. This means you need to plan and record all such movements and hold the appropriate licence.
Do not move livestock during 6‑day stand‑still after arrivals
Unlimited fineIf you have received any sheep, goats, cattle or pigs onto your farm, you must wait at least six days before moving any sheep, goats or cattle off that farm. This stand‑still period helps prevent the spread of disease, so you need to keep a clear record of when animals arrive and ensure no outbound movements occur within the six‑day window.
Do not move pigs after recent animal arrivals on the premises
If pigs have been brought onto your farm or holding in the last 20 days, or if cattle, goats or sheep have been brought onto the premises in the last 6 days, you must not move any pig away from that premises. This means you need to check recent animal movements before transporting pigs and delay any movement until the stand‑still periods have passed.
Follow isolation and declaration rules for animal movements onto premises
When you bring animals onto your farm, holding site or any other premises, you must follow the specific isolation periods and use facilities that a veterinary inspector has approved. You also need to submit a quick declaration that the animal is for breeding (or other permitted purpose) as required. Failing to meet these steps can breach the Disease Control Order.
Keep animals in isolation until all are released and keep pigs separate by species
If you run an isolation facility and you bring new animals in before the previous ones have been released, you must keep every animal in that facility until the final release date of the most recent batch. In addition, pigs must never share an isolation facility with any other species.
Move animals under a specific licence as required and keep licence records
Unlimited fineIf you transport animals using a specific licence you must take the most direct route, keep the licence with the animals and show it to police or inspectors when asked, keep the animals separate from any others, and the person receiving the animals must get the licence before unloading and keep it for six months. Failure to do so can lead to prosecution.
Provide care for animals left on premises after occupation change
If you take over a property and the previous owner cannot move their animal because of a disease‑control restriction, you must let them (or someone they authorise) use the premises to feed, tend or sell the animal. If they cannot do that, you must look after the animal yourself. This duty ends 7 days after the restriction lifts, and the animal owner must pay you reasonable costs.
Record keeping 1
Keep deer movement records for six months and report as required
If you receive deer on your land that have been moved under a general licence which needs a movement document, you must follow the licence’s reporting rules and keep a copy of that document for six months. You must be able to show the document to an inspector if they ask for it.
Penalties for non-compliance
2 penalties under this legislation. 2 carry an unlimited fine.
Do not move livestock during 6‑day stand‑still after arrivals
Unlimited fine
Move animals under a specific licence as required and keep licence records
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Comply with livestock movement standstill periods
Legal requirements for standstill periods after livestock arrive on your holding. Covers standstill lengths by species, exemptions, and penalties for …
Report livestock movements and comply with standstill rules
How to report cattle, sheep, goat, pig, and deer movements using government traceability systems. Includes reporting deadlines, standstill periods, and …
Recognise and report notifiable animal diseases
How to identify signs of notifiable diseases in livestock and report suspected cases to APHA. Covers bovine TB, avian influenza, …
Sections and provisions
26 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 11
- Schedule 2 Movements on to premises that do not trigger the standstill period
- s.4 Restrictions on the movement of cattle, sheep and goats person
- s.5 Restrictions on the movement of pigs person
- s.8 Isolation facilities
- s.10 Restrictions on movements to and from slaughterhouses animal
- s.14 Specific licences
- s.16 Copies of licences
- s.19 Licences, permits and authorisations
- s.20 Cleansing and disinfection
- s.21 Change of occupation of premises
- Movement documents for deer Movement documents for deer