Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 19th November, 2021.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 36 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (No. 15 of 2013), hereby makes the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Avian Influenza (Restriction on Assembly of Live Birds) Regulations 2021 and come into operation on 17 November 2021.

2. A person shall not-

(a) organise or take part in an event which involves assembling birds,

(b) sell or supply a live bird at a fair, market, mart or other gathering, or

(c) have a live bird in his or her possession or under his and her control at an event to which paragraph (1) or (2) relates.

3. Regulation 2 does not apply to the assembly of pigeons for racing and associated purposes.

4. Regulation 2 is a penal provision to which section 36 (4) (b) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 applies.

GIVEN under my Official Seal of the Minister for

Agriculture, Food and the Marine,

15 November, 2021.

BRENDAN GLEESON,

An officer authorised to authenticate the official Seal of the Minister.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

These regulations provide for restrictions on the assembly of live birds as a precautionary measure against risk of avian influenza.