Public and Environmental Health (Rodent Control) Regulations (Cap. 8.04)

© Crown Copyright 2009 Copying/unauthorised distribution strictly prohibited. Printed under Authority by The Regional Law Revision Centre Inc. www.lawrevision.ai Public and Environmental Health CAP. 8.04 61 Revision Date: 31 Aug 2009 [Subsidiary Legislation] LAWS OF TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (RODENT CONTROL) REGULATIONS – SECTION 70 (Legal Notice 7/2005) Commencement [1 April 2005] Short title 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Public and Environmental Health (Rodent Control) Regulations. Interpretation 2. In these Regulations— “containers” includes sacks, casks, cases and other articles and materials used or intended to be used for containing or packing food or forage; “forage” includes all feeding stuffs (whether natural, artificial, dried or undried) for animals, including birds; “infested with rats” means habitually visited in substantial numbers by rats or used by rats as a breeding place. Premises to be kept free from rats 3. (1) Every person who is the owner or occupier of any premises shall take, or cause to be taken, all reasonable steps to ensure that the premises are maintained free of rats. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the owner or occupier of any premises ― (a) shall ensure that the premises are— (i) except as authorised by a health officer, kept free of accumulations of trash, garbage (otherwise than garbage in covered containers) and other decaying matter; (ii) kept free of accumulations of debris (including waste, timber, rubbish and rubber) likely to harbour rats; (b) shall ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to make buildings on the premises inaccessible to rats; (c) shall ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any stocks of foodstuff on the premises (whether such foodstuffs are for human or animal consumption) are stored in such a manner as not to be accessible to rats; © Crown Copyright 2009 Copying/unauthorised distribution strictly prohibited. Printed under Authority by The Regional Law Revision Centre Inc. www.lawrevision.ai Public and 62 CAP. 8.04 Environmental Health [Subsidiary Legislation] Revision Date: 31 Aug 2009 LAWS OF TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS (d) shall ensure that all reasonable steps are taken by way of trapping, poisoning or otherwise, to exterminate rats on the premises and to maintain the premises free of rats. Infestation to be reported 4. Where a person who operates a business involving the storage of food or forage in any premises has reasonable cause to believe that— (a) any food or forage; (b) any commodity stored together with food or forage; or (c) any container or vehicle in which food or forage is stored; or (d) the premises on which food or forage is stored, is infested with rats, he shall forthwith inform a health officer in writing of the infestation, and shall, while he continues to store food or forage in those premises, inform a health officer in writing at intervals not exceeding ninety days, of the state of infestation of the articles or premises mentioned in subparagraphs (a) to (d) inclusive, unless a health officer authorises him in writing to discontinue such information. Rats on vessels 5. (1) The Chief Environmental Health Officer may, by notice in the form set out in the Schedule, request the Master, owner or agent of a vessel to take and maintain such measures or precautions as may be required or necessary to prevent rats from any vessel from landing on the Islands. (2) In this regulation “Master” means the person in charge of the vessel. Offences and punishment 6. (1) Any Master, owner or agent of any vessel who fails to comply with any request contained in a notice under regulation 5(1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of $5,000 or to a term of imprisonment of 6 months, and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction to a fine of $7,000 or to a term of imprisonment of nine months. (2) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of regulations 3 or 4 shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of $1,500 or to a term of imprisonment of two months, and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction to a fine of $1,800 or to a term of imprisonment of four months. (3) Where any such offence as aforesaid is a continuing offence, the person guilty of the offence shall, in addition to any punishment provided in this section, be liable to a further fine of $500 for each day on which the offence continues after conviction thereof. © Crown Copyright 2009 Copying/unauthorised distribution strictly prohibited. Printed under Authority by The Regional Law Revision Centre Inc. www.lawrevision.ai Public and Environmental Health CAP. 8.04 63 Revision Date: 31 Aug 2009 [Subsidiary Legislation] LAWS OF TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS SCHEDULE (Regulation 5(1)) NOTICE To ……………………..……………………….….…………… Master/owner/agent of (Name of person) Vessel ………………………………………………………….…………………….…. (Name of vessel) Take Notice that you are requested to take and maintain the following measures or precautions to prevent rats from the above named vessel landing on ………………………….…………………………………..… . (State the Island) Measures or Precautions Dated this ………… day of ………………………….. 20.......... . Signature ………………………………………. CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER