Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
|
Protection of animals from poison. |
18.—(1) A person shall not— | |
(a) poison a protected animal, or | ||
(b) lay poison by a method or in a manner that a protected animal has or would have access to the poison. | ||
(2) The owner, occupier or person in charge of land shall not lay or cause to be laid a poison or a substance containing a poison on land unless, before laying the poison or substance, he or she erects or causes to be erected, and maintains, a notice or notices of the laying of poison upon the land so that at least one notice is clearly visible from every public place adjoining or being upon the land. | ||
(3) The owner, occupier or person in charge of land on which a poison or a substance containing a poison is laid shall give— | ||
(a) at least 7 days’ notice in writing in advance of the laying of the poison or substance, or | ||
(b) if the poison or substance is being laid as part of a programme for the control of vermin in crops, at least 7 days’ notice in writing in advance of the commencement of the programme accompanied by details of when it is proposed to lay the poison or substance, | ||
to the local authority for the functional area in which the land is situated. | ||
(4) In proceedings for an offence under this section consisting of a contravention of subsection (1), it is a defence for the accused to show that all reasonable precautions were taken to prevent access to the poison or substance by protected animals. | ||
(5) A person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a class B fine. | ||
(6) In this section— | ||
“poison” does not include the administration of an animal remedy (within the meaning of the Animal Remedies Act 1993 ) to an animal; | ||
“land” means land on which a protected animal is kept or to which a protected animal has access but does not include areas within the structure of a building or used for purposes ancillary to the use of the building. | ||
(7) This section is in addition to and not in substitution for any enactment relating to the laying of poison. |