S.I. No. 310/2016 - Welfare of Greyhounds Regulations 2016.

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 17th June, 2016.

I, MICHAEL CREED, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 5 and 8 of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 (No. 29 of 2011), having consulted with Bord na gCon and the Irish Coursing Club, hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Welfare of Greyhounds Regulations 2016.

(2) These Regulations come into effect on 1st September 2016.

2. In these Regulations-

“animal remedy” has the same meaning as in the Animal Remedies Act 1993 (No. 23 of 1993);

“Identity Card of the Irish Greyhound Studbook” means an identification card issued in accordance with Part 5 of the Irish Coursing Club Rules.

3. A person who keeps a greyhound for breeding, rearing, training, racing or coursing purposes shall–

(a) ensure that greyhounds under his or her care are kept in a manner as to avoid unnecessary suffering,

(b) ensure that greyhounds under his or her care receive treatment when necessary from a veterinary practitioner, and

(c) maintain a record (in these Regulations referred to as “the record”) of—

(i) all animal remedies administered, or

(ii) treatment provided by a veterinary practitioner

to the greyhound.

4. A person to whom Regulation 3 refers shall ensure that the record includes the following details:

(a) name, greyhound tattoo and microchip identification code of the greyhound as contained in the Identity Card of the Irish Greyhound Studbook;

(b)(i) name of the animal remedy as authorised in accordance with the European Communities (Animal Remedies) (No. 2) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 786 of 2007 ), or

(ii) nature of the treatment provided by a veterinary practitioner where no animal remedy was administered;

(c) date of treatment provided by a veterinary practitioner or the administration of an animal remedy;

(d) route and dosage per day quantity of the administration of the animal remedy;

(e) name of the person administering the treatment or animal remedy;

(f) where appropriate, name and registration details of the person authorising or prescribing the animal remedy or treatment provided by a veterinary practitioner.

5. (1) A person referred to in Regulation 3 shall ensure that the record is completed within 24 hours of administration of the animal remedy or treatment.

(2) A person referred to in Regulation 3 shall maintain the record for a period of not less than 12 months.

6. A person shall produce the record upon request by a welfare officer at the place the greyhound is kept or within 7 days of being so requested if such a request is made anywhere other than the place where the greyhound is kept.

7. (1) A person shall not contravene Regulations 3, 4, 5 or 6.

(2) These Regulations are penal provisions for the purposes of section 8 (4) of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 (No. 29 of 2011).

Given under my Official Seal,

8 June 2016.

MICHAEL CREED,

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

These regulations require the keepers of greyhounds for breeding, rearing, training or coursing to maintain records of all animal remedies or veterinary treatments administered providing for a recording system to ensure the welfare of greyhounds is not compromised as provided for under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act. The detail to record is provided for in the regulations as is the length of time the records must be held.

These regulations require the records to be made available on request to welfare officers when carrying out inspections of the greyhounds at places where these animals are kept. Where records are sought at places other than where the animals are kept they must be submitted within 7 days.