Becoming a livestock keeper: complete compliance guide
- 1 step
UK Statutory Instrument
2006
England
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (England) Order 2006
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
93 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 2 journeys
Penalty landscape
3 of 93 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 1 carries different penalties and 89 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 64
- Occupier 15
- Director or Officer 1
Plus 13 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Farmer compliance checklist
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Occupiers also bound by 259 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 2021 39 duties
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 34 duties
- The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 1995 34 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 23 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 18 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — Introduction
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Interpretation
Extension of definitions of “animals” and “poultry”
Licences and declarations
Notices
Disinfection
Title, application and commencement
Premises comprising common or unenclosed land
Dissemination of information concerning restrictions and requirements
Part 2 — Notification, suspicion and investigation of disease
Notice of suspicion of disease
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- APHA must notify occupiers of suspected or existing Foot-and-Mouth disease Statutory regulator
Suspicion of disease in animals in transit
- Clean and disinfect vehicles and equipment suspected of contamination Any Person
Veterinary inquiry into the existence of disease and declaration of suspect premises and infected premises
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- APHA must investigate suspected Foot-and-Mouth disease and designate premises Statutory regulator
Tracing of possible disease spread
Unlimited fineOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must designate and investigate suspect or contact premises Crown / Minister / Government department
Measures applicable in respect of a temporary control zone
- Comply with movement restrictions in a temporary control zone Any Person
Measures applicable in respect of a supplementary movement control zone
Unlimited fine- Do not move animals into, out of, or within a movement control zone Any Person
Diagnostic tests
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- National Reference Laboratory must use approved diagnostic tests Statutory regulator
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Separate production units
Maintenance of measures in respect of premises
Declaration of a temporary control zone
Supplementary measures in respect of a temporary control zone: straying of susceptible animals
Declaration of supplementary movement control zone
Notification of disease or suspected disease
Part 3 — Measures following confirmation of disease
Tracing of products originating on infected premises
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must trace and manage items from infected premises Crown / Minister / Government department
Sampling and clinical examination of susceptible animals before slaughter
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must ensure veterinary examination before slaughter Crown / Minister / Government department
Slaughter: control of carcases
- Do not move animal carcasses from infected premises without a licence Any Person
Slaughter: control of faecal material
- Do not move animal waste from foot-and-mouth infected premises Any Person
Slaughter: cleansing and disinfection of premises other than slaughterhouses and border inspection posts
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must ensure disinfection of premises following slaughter Crown / Minister / Government department
Slaughter: cleansing and disinfection of slaughterhouses and border inspection posts
- Do not move animals onto premises until 24 hours after disinfection Any Person
Restocking of premises following slaughter
- Obtain a licence before restocking premises after disease slaughter Any Person
Declaration of protection zones and surveillance zones on confirmation of disease in Scotland or Wales
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must declare disease zones near Scotland or Wales borders Crown / Minister / Government department
Veterinary inspection of premises in protection zones and surveillance zones
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must ensure veterinary inspections of affected premises Crown / Minister / Government department
Power to prohibit entry to land or agricultural buildings in a protection zone
- Comply with entry prohibition notices in protection zones Any Person
Browse 11 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Notice of intention to slaughter animals
Place of slaughter
Slaughter: isolation of things liable to spread disease
Declaration of protection zones and surveillance zones on confirmation of disease in England
Protection zones and surveillance zones: general provisions
Measures applicable in respect of protection zones and surveillance zones
Amendment and revocation of declarations creating protection zones and surveillance zones
Declaration of a restricted zone
Measures applicable in respect of a restricted zone
Presence of disease in wild animals and declaration of a wild animal infected zone
Measures applicable in a wild animal infected zone
Part 4 — General and supplementary provisions
Production of licences
- Carry and produce movement licences for livestock Any Person
Duty of the local authority to erect signs
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must signpost Foot-and-Mouth disease control zones Local authority
Cleansing and disinfection of vehicles transporting susceptible animals
- Clean and disinfect vehicles transporting susceptible animals Any Person
Cleansing and disinfection of vehicles: provision of facilities, equipment and materials
- Provide vehicle disinfection facilities and materials on your premises Occupier
Marks applied under this Order
Unlimited fine- Do not remove or alter official disease control marks Any Person
Change of occupation of premises under restriction
- Maintain and allow access to animals when taking over restricted premises Any Person
Reasonable assistance
- Provide immediate assistance to APHA officers during an outbreak Any Person
False information
- Do not provide false or misleading information to inspectors Any Person
Compliance with notices and directions
- Pay for and comply with foot-and-mouth disease notices and directions Any Person
Production of records
- Produce records and allow copying during foot-and-mouth inspections Any Person
Retention of records
- Keep records of animal movements and vehicle disinfection Any Person
Offences by bodies corporate
6 months imprisonment- Corporate liability for foot‑and‑mouth disease offences via officer consent or neglect Director or Officer
Offences: no knowledge of restriction or requirement
- Demonstrate lack of knowledge as a defence for zone restriction breaches Any Person
Contingency plans and exercises
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must conduct foot-and-mouth disease alert exercises Crown / Minister / Government department
Biosecurity standards for laboratories handling live foot-and-mouth disease virus
- Obtain a licence and authorisation to handle live foot-and-mouth virus Any Person
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 5 — Amendments and revocations
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Schedules
Measures applicable in respect of premises on suspicion and confirmation of disease
- Control disease spread on premises suspected of Foot-and-Mouth infection Occupier
Restocking of premises
- Follow strict veterinary controls when restocking animals after FMD Occupier
Measures applicable in respect of a restricted zone
- Comply with movement and activity restrictions in Foot-and-Mouth zones Occupier
Movement of vehicles on to or off the premises
- Do not move vehicles on or off the premises without a licence Any Person
Movement of non-susceptible animals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Do not move non-susceptible animals from infected premises without a licence Crown / Minister / Government department
Signs publicising infection or suspicion
- Display foot-and-mouth disease warning signs at entrances Occupier
Isolation, removal and detention of susceptible animals
- Isolate susceptible animals and follow inspector's isolation/removal orders Occupier
Movement of susceptible animals
- Do not move susceptible animals without a valid licence Any Person
Movement of things liable to spread disease
- Do not move specified animal products from premises without authorisation Any Person
Movement of fodder,
- Do not move fodder, waste or other disease-spreading things from premises without a licence Any Person
Movement of persons on to or off the premises
- Do not enter or leave infected premises without authorisation Any Person
Cleansing and disinfection of clothing,
- Maintain strict hygiene when entering or leaving premises under foot‑and‑mouth disease restrictions Any Person
Disinfection
- Provide and maintain disinfection facilities on infected premises Occupier
(1) Every person carrying out a cleansing and disinfection operation...
- Keep written record of cleansing and disinfection operations Any Person
Where any vaccinated animal is to be introduced to premises...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- APHA must test vaccinated animals introduced outside a vaccination zone Statutory regulator
During restocking, no person shall move a susceptible animal from...
- Do not move susceptible animals from premises during restocking Any Person
Record keeping in protection zones and surveillance zones
- Keep records of susceptible animals and products in protection/surveillance zones Occupier
Movement of susceptible animals from or to premises in a protection zone
- Do not move susceptible animals into or out of a protection zone without a licence Any Person
Movement of non-susceptible animals from or to premises in a protection zone where susceptible animals are kept
- Prohibition on moving non-susceptible animals in protection zones Any Person
Movement of animals into or out of a protection zone
- Do not move animals into or out of a protection zone without a licence Any Person
Movement of vehicles from premises in a protection zone where susceptible animals are kept
- Do not move animal transport vehicles from protection zone without a licence Any Person
Control of animal gatherings in a protection zone
- Do not hold any animal gathering in a protection zone Any Person
Control of gatherings of people in a protection zone
- Do not hold or take part in prohibited activities in a protection zone Any Person
Breeding in a protection zone
- Do not carry out itinerant breeding or unauthorised AI/embryo collection in a protection zone Occupier
Slaughter for private consumption in a protection zone
- Do not slaughter susceptible animals in a protection zone for private consumption Any Person
Transport of fodder in a protection zone
- Do not transport fodder to susceptible-animal premises in a protection zone without a licence Any Person
Sale of fodder originating in a protection zone
- Prohibition on selling fodder from a protection zone unless conditions met Any Person
Transport, treatment and spreading of dung and manure produced in a protection zone
- Handle dung and manure from a protection zone only under strict controls Occupier
Fresh meat etc. derived from susceptible animals originating in a protection zone
- Do not sell or move susceptible meat from a protection zone unless older than 21 days and stored separately Any Person
Fresh meat etc. produced on premises in a protection zone
- Do not sell or move meat from a protection zone without a licence and proper segregation Any Person
Meat products produced from meat derived from susceptible animals originating in a protection zone
- Do not sell protection-zone meat products unless source meat meets conditions Any Person
Milk and milk products produced from susceptible animals originating in a protection zone or on premises in a protection zone
- Do not sell milk from protection zone without meeting conditions Any Person
Collection, transport and processing of milk and milk products produced in a protection zone
- Follow strict rules for collecting and transporting milk from a protection zone Any Person
Movement of animals from premises in a surveillance zone
- You must not move susceptible animals from a surveillance zone without a licence Any Person
Control of animal gatherings and gatherings of people in a surveillance zone
- Do not hold gatherings, hunt, stalk, or shoot deer in a surveillance zone without a licence Any Person
Fresh meat etc. derived from susceptible animals originating in a surveillance zone
- Do not sell or move meat from susceptible animals in a surveillance zone without meeting exemption conditions Any Person
Fresh meat etc. produced on premises in a surveillance zone
- Do not sell or send meat from a surveillance zone unless from an APHA-licensed establishment Any Person
Control of dogs and poultry in protection zones and surveillance zones
- Keep your dog under control in a foot-and-mouth protection or surveillance zone Any Person
Meat products produced from meat derived from susceptible animals originating in a surveillance zone or produced on premises in a surveillance zone
- Do not sell or move meat products from surveillance zone unless treated or licensed Any Person
Milk and milk products produced from susceptible animals originating in a surveillance zone or on premises in a surveillance zone
- Do not sell milk from a surveillance zone unless it meets strict conditions Any Person
Collection, transport and processing of raw milk produced in a surveillance zone
- Comply with transport and processing rules for raw milk from surveillance zones Any Person
Transport, treatment and spreading of dung and manure produced in a surveillance zone
- Transport, treat and spread dung or manure from surveillance zones only under licence Any Person
Shearing or dipping sheep in a protection or surveillance zone
- Obtain licence to shear or dip sheep in a disease control zone Any Person
Ultrasound scanning of sheep in a protection or surveillance zone
- Do not ultrasound scan sheep in a protection or surveillance zone without a licence Occupier
Semen, ova and embryos collected in a protection or surveillance zone
- Do not sell semen, ova or embryos from FMD zones unless they meet requirements Any Person
Hides and skins of susceptible animals originating in a protection or surveillance zone
- Do not sell untreated hides/skins from disease zones unless old enough Any Person
Wool, ruminant hair and pig bristles from animals originating in a protection or surveillance zone
- Sell wool/hair/bristles from disease zones only if aged or treated Any Person
Other animal products produced in a protection zone or a surveillance zone or from animals originating in such a zone
- Do not sell certain animal products from protection/surveillance zones unless treated or older than 21 days Any Person
Movement of susceptible animals in a restricted zone
- Only move susceptible animals in restricted zones under licence and ensure vehicle is cleansed and disinfected Any Person
Slaughter of susceptible animals in a restricted zone
- Slaughter susceptible animals within 24 hours and per inspector directions Occupier
Control of products from slaughterhouses in a restricted zone
- Control movement and handling of animal products from slaughterhouses in a restricted zone Any Person
Control of carcases in a restricted zone
- Do not move susceptible animal carcasses from a restricted zone without a licence Any Person
Control of animal gatherings and gatherings of people in a restricted zone
- Don't hold gatherings or hunt/stalk/shoot in a restricted zone without a licence Any Person
Shearing or dipping of sheep in a restricted zone
- Do not shear or dip sheep in a restricted zone without a licence Any Person
Ultrasound scanning of sheep in a restricted zone
- Do not scan sheep in a restricted zone without a licence Any Person
Record keeping in a wild animal infected zone
- Keep a record of susceptible animals in a wild animal infected zone Occupier
Isolation of susceptible animals in a wild animal infected zone
- Isolate susceptible animals from wild animals in infected zone Occupier
Movement of susceptible animals in a wild animal infected zone
- Do not move susceptible animals without a licence in a wild animal infected zone Any Person
Cleansing and disinfection in a wild animal infected zone
- Provide disinfection at all entrances where susceptible animals are kept Occupier
Carcases and things which may be contaminated in a wild animal infected zone
- Do not bring wild animal carcasses or contaminated items onto premises in a wild animal infected zone Any Person
Movement of semen, ova and embryos out of a wild animal infected zone for trade
- Do not move susceptible animal semen, ova or embryos from a wild animal infected zone for EU/EEA trade Any Person
Browse 54 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Orders revoked
Record keeping
Control of rodents
Disease virus has been isolated from an animal kept on...
Clinical signs consistent with disease are observed in an animal...
Clinical signs consistent with disease are observed in an animal...
Viral antigen or viral RNA specific to one or more...
An epidemiological link has been established to infected premises and...
This Part applies to all cleansing and disinfection of premises...
This Part applies to the cleansing and disinfection of infected...
Cleansing and disinfection shall be carried out during and immediately...
Following slaughter— (a) every carcase shall be sprayed with disinfectant;...
Disinfectant shall not be removed for at least 24 hours...
Grease and dirt shall be removed from all surfaces by...
Following degreasing and washing with water or steam, disinfectant shall...
At least seven days after the reapplication of disinfectant, the...
This Part applies to the disinfection of contaminated used litter,...
Unless otherwise directed by the Secretary of State by notice...
The Secretary of State may by notice served on the...
(1) Unless otherwise directed by the Secretary of State by...
Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that cleansing and...
Cleansing and disinfection of premises to which this paragraph applies...
Every person carrying out cleansing or disinfection under this Schedule...
Used litter and faecal matter shall be thoroughly soaked with...
All surfaces which may be contaminated shall be brushed and...
Equipment or other things obstructing thorough cleansing and disinfection shall...
Water used for cleansing shall be disposed of so as...
Washing of surfaces with liquids under pressure shall be carried...
Equipment, installations or other things which may be contaminated shall...
(1) In this Schedule, “vaccinated” means treated with hyperimmune serum...
Animals for restocking may only be introduced under the following...
During restocking, animals shall be introduced into all units and...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), during restocking each animal shall—...
Not earlier than 28 days after the last introduction, each...
Instead of restocking in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 5,...
The Secretary of State shall declare the completion of restocking...
Straying of susceptible animals
Meat products
Straw and forage
De-boning
Maturation
Milk and milk products for human consumption
Milk and milk products not intended for human consumption
Hides and skins
Wool, ruminant hair and pig bristles
Animal products derived from susceptible animals
Blood and blood products
Lard and rendered fats
Petfood and dog chews
Game trophies of ungulates
Animal casings
Straying of susceptible animals in a restricted zone
Cleansing and disinfection of slaughterhouses in a restricted zone
Notification of dead wild susceptible animals in a wild animal infected zone
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- DAERA animal health and welfare (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Welsh Government animal health and welfare (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Soil Association organic poultry standards (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Safeguards animal and plant health for the benefit of people, environment and economy. Issues export health certificates, manages disease outbreaks, operates veterinary …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.