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referred to in subparagraph (a) of this regulation shall be required.

4. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of these Regulations, if the Minister or any public officer acting under his directions or authority suspects and believes that any dog within The Bahamas is harbouring the virus of rabies, he may cause such dog to be detained at such place as he may by writing appoint and for such period, not exceeding six months, as he may by writing direct for the purpose of satisfying himself that such dog is or is not harbouring the virus of rabies or he may by order in writing direct that such dog be forthwith destroyed; and all costs, charges and expenses in connection with the detention of any such dog shall be payable by the owner of such dog on demand by the Minister.

(2) All dogs under the age of six months which shall enter The Bahamas shall, at the owner’s expense, be confined at the premises of the Bahamas Humane Society or a qualified and registered veterinary surgeon, until satisfactory evidence is given to the Government Veter- inary Surgeon that they are free from rabies.

5. No person shall be entitled to any compensation for any dog destroyed or otherwise dealt with under the provisions of these Regulations.

ANIMAL CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (IMPORT CONTROL) REGULATIONS

(SECTION 33) [Commencement 4th August, 1966]

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Animal Contagious Diseases (Import Control) Regulations.

2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —

“Act” means the Animal Contagious Diseases Act; “animal” includes birds and bees; “Director” means the person for the time being

appointed to be the Director of Agriculture; “diseased” means suffering from any contagious or

infectious diseases;

Dogs may be detained if suspicion of rabies.

No compensation.

S.I. 59/1966 S.I. 29/1984

Title.

Interpretation.

Ch. 246.

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“import” means import into The Bahamas; “inspection” means inspection by an inspector; “master” in relation to an aircraft means the pilot in

charge thereof; “permit’’ means an importation permit issued under

the provisions of regulation 3 of these Regula- tions;

“quarantine station” means any place declared to be a quarantine station under the provisions of regulation 8 of these Regulations;

“vessel” includes an aircraft. 3. (1) Subject to paragraph (4) of this regulation,

no animal shall be imported unless a permit therefor is obtained from the Director and is produced to the inspector, by the importer, his agent or the master of the vessel on which the animal is conveyed, at the time of importation.

(2) An application for a permit shall be made in writing to the Director and shall state the number and type of animals which it is desired to import, the country of origin of the same, the probable date and mode of shipment, the port of embarkation and the port and probable date of arrival in The Bahamas. The Director may require such additional particulars and supporting evidence as to the facts as may be reasonably necessary in any particular case.

(3) Any permit shall be subject to the provisions of these Regulations and to such conditions, to be stated in the permit, as the Director may consider necessary in the circumstances of any particular case or any type of animal for the prevention of the introduction of any infectious or contagious disease into The Bahamas.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this regulation, the Director may by writing authorise the importation of any animal, either temporarily or otherwise, without the issue of a permit in any case in which he considers that in the circumstances such importation is justified and that such animal is not diseased.

4. The master of any vessel carrying any animals to The Bahamas, immediately upon arrival in The Bahamas, shall notify the nearest customs officer of the arrival and the particulars of the animals concerned.

Permit for importation of animals.

Master of vessel to notify arrival.

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5. (1) All animals tendered for importation shall be subject to inspection. An inspector shall, as soon as may be after the arrival in The Bahamas, of any animals on board any vessel inspect such animals and if they appear not to be diseased shall superintend their landing or order them to be disposed of or removed to quarantine, according to the requirements of the case. The landing and disposal of any fodder, litter or equipment of whatsoever type used by, or intended for use by, any such animals shall also be carried out in accordance with the directions or under the superintendence of an inspector.

(2) No animal which upon inspection under the provisions of this regulation is suspected or found to be diseased shall be permitted to be imported. Animals which are found to be diseased shall be either forthwith removed from The Bahamas, if the Minister considers that there is no objection to that course, or shall be disposed of as diseased animals in such manner as the Minister may direct, according to the circumstances of any case, in exercise of any of the powers conferred by the Act. Animals which are suspected to be diseased shall either be disposed of in like manner to animals found to be diseased or may be retained in quarantine in accordance with the provisions of regulation 6 of these Regulations.

6. Where an inspector suspects that any animal tendered for importation is diseased, unless the importa- tion of such animal is otherwise prohibited under any other law or the Minister directs that it should be disposed of under any other provision of the Act or of these Regulations, the inspector may, in his discretion, but subject to any instructions in that behalf issued by the Director, admit such animal into quarantine for such period as he considers necessary and if at the end of such period of quarantine the animal is found not to be diseased its importation may be permitted; but if the animal is found to be diseased it shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions applicable under paragraph (2) of regulation 5 of these Regulations when an animal is found to be diseased when tendered for importation.

7. For the purpose of ascertaining whether or not any animal inspected under the provisions of regulation 5 or which is held in quarantine under any provision of these Regulations is diseased, an inspector may carry out such

Inspection and disposal of animals on arrival in The Bahamas.

Procedure when disease suspected.

Animals may be tested.

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tests, in accordance with ordinary veterinary practice, as the Director or the Government Veterinary Surgeon may authorise.

8. (1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Regulations all animals the permit for the importation of which provides for a period of quarantine upon arrival shall only be admitted into The Bahamas at a quarantine station. For the purposes of this regulation the ports of Nassau and Rock Sound shall be quarantine stations.

(2) At each quarantine station there shall be provided a suitable place, with all necessary equipment, for the keeping of animals in quarantine, and such place and all the equipment and staff thereof shall be under the control of an inspector.

9. (1) No person other than the inspector in charge thereof and the persons working under his control, shall enter any place in which animals are kept in quarantine under the provisions of these Regulations unless authorised in writing by the Director.

(2) All animals kept in quarantine shall be treated and managed in accordance with the directions of the inspector in charge thereof.

(3) The owner of any animals kept in quarantine shall be responsible for the cost of feeding, treating and supervising such animals but not for the expense of the housing and custody thereof, and the lawful charges payable by the owner of such animals shall be paid to the inspector before the animals are permitted to be removed from quarantine.

10. Every person having the control or custody of any animal, whether as owner thereof or as agent, shall give to an inspector any assistance that such inspector may lawfully require in order to carry out his duties and exercise his powers under these Regulations, and any person who obstructs an inspector in the exercise of any such powers or who contravenes any of the provisions of these Regulations or removes any animal from quarantine without the authority of the inspector in charge of the quarantine station shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of one hundred and forty dollars.

Provisions relating to quarantine.

Control of quarantine station.

Offences.

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11. Except for regulation 3, the provisions of these Regulations shall not apply to the importation of dogs or domestic cats, and the importation of such animals shall be effected in accordance with regulation 3 of these Regula- tions and the provisions of the Rabies and Hydrophobia Prevention Regulations.

Regulations not to apply to the importation of dogs and cats, except regulation 3.