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42 1934

SLAUGHTER OF CATTLE AND SHEEP ACT, 1934

PART V.

Provisions in Relation to the Slaughter and Sale for Slaughter of Cattle and Sheep.

Restrictions on the price of cattle and sheep.

25. —(1) The Minister may by order make regulations for all or any of the following purposes, that is to say:—

(a) fixing the minimum price at which cattle may be bought by a registered proprietor of registered premises, including the fixing of different such minimum prices for different grades of cattle and for different areas or districts;

(b) fixing the minimum price at which sheep may be bought by a registered proprietor of registered premises, including the fixing of different such minimum prices for different grades of sheep and for different areas or districts;

(c) fixing the basis, whether by weight, by hand, or otherwise, on which the price of cattle is to be calculated on any sale or on any agreement or contract for the sale of cattle for slaughter, including the fixing of different such bases for different grades of cattle and for different areas or districts;

(d) fixing the basis, whether by weight, by hand, or otherwise, on which the price of sheep is to be calculated on any sale or on any agreement or contract for the sale of sheep for slaughter, including the fixing of different such bases for different grades of sheep and for different areas or districts.

(2) Every registered proprietor of registered premises who shall buy any cattle or sheep at a price which is less than the minimum price (if any) applicable to such sale by virtue of regulations made under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds for each animal in respect of which such offence was committed.

(3) Every person who shall sell or buy or agree or contract to sell or to buy any cattle or sheep at a price calculated on a basis other than the basis (if any) applicable to such sale by virtue of regulations made under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds for each animal in respect of which such offence is committed.

(4) Whenever any cattle or sheep are bought by the registered proprietor of registered premises at a price which is less than the minimum price (if any) applicable to such purchase by virtue of regulations made under this section, the difference between the said price at which such cattle or sheep (as the case may be) were so bought and the said minimum price shall be a debt due by such registered proprietor to the person from whom he so bought such cattle or sheep and shall be recoverable by such person or his personal representative from such registered proprietor accordingly, but no proceedings for the recovery of any such debt shall be instituted more than twelve months after the purchase in respect of which such debt is payable.

(5) When fixing a minimum price under this section the Minister shall have regard to the cost of production of the animals to which such price applies.

Restrictions on time of weighing.

26. —(1) The Minister may by order make regulations for all or any of the following purposes, that is to say:—

(a) fixing the minimum time after feeding within which cattle may be weighed for the purpose of a sale of such cattle for slaughter, including the fixing of different such minimum times for different grades of cattle and for different areas or districts.

(b) fixing the minimum time after feeding within which sheep may be weighed for the purposes of a sale of such sheep for slaughter, including the fixing of different such minimum times for different grades of sheep and for different areas or districts.

(2) Whenever any cattle or sheep are weighed for the purposes of a sale of such cattle or sheep for slaughter within a period after feeding which is less than the minimum time (if any) fixed in that behalf by regulations made under this section which is applicable to such sale, the vendor of such cattle or sheep (as the case may be) shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds for each animal in respect of which such offence is committed.

Restrictions on place of slaughter.

27. —(1) It shall not be lawful for any cattle or sheep to be slaughtered for sale for human consumption in Saorstát Eireann in any premises or place whatsoever other than registered slaughtering premises.

(2) Every person who slaughters any cattle or sheep in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds for each animal in respect of which such offence is committed.

(3) Where a person is charged with an offence under this section it shall be a good defence to such charge for such person to prove that the animal in respect of which the offence is alleged to have been committed was suffering pain caused by injury or disease and was slaughtered in order to avoid the unnecessary suffering to which such animal would have been subjected by bringing it to registered slaughtering premises for slaughter.

Further restrictions in respect of slaughter.

28. —(1) Every registered proprietor of registered victualling premises who procures the slaughter of any cattle or sheep in any premises or place whatsoever other than registered slaughtering premises shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-section.

(2) Every registered proprietor of registered victualling premises who buys the carcase or any part of the carcase of any cattle or sheep slaughtered in any premises or place whatsoever other than registered slaughtering premises shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-section unless he proves that he did not know and could not reasonably have known that such cattle or sheep (as the case may be) had been so slaughtered.

(3) Every person who is guilty of an offence under either sub-section of this section shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds.