Section 12: Control of trade animals

(1) The Minister may, by notice published in the Federal Gazette, specify the areas to which the provisions hereunder shall apply.
(2) The Minister or Commissioner may by notice published in the Federal Gazette establish more inspection stations and control posts at specified places.
(3) The control of trade animals prescribed under this Act shall be exercised by the Director, Federal Livestock Department or the Chief Veterinary Officer, as the case may be.
(4) Any person in charge of trade animals entering from any place outside Nigeria into any area in Nigeria shall move all the animals by the most direct route to the nearest control post.
(5) Where trade animals have been purchased, the person in charge shall, before moving them out of the area where they were situated at the time of purchase, move them to the nearest control post within such area.
(6)
Where trade animals are being moved from one area to another for the purpose of being slaughtered they may be moved without restriction, provided that, the distance to be travelled does not exceed thirty kilometres measured by the most direct cattle route and there is no control post along such route.
(7) Where trade animals are transported by rail or road for a period exceeding twelve hours the person in charge shall be required to stop to feed, water and rest such animals every twelve hours.
(8) Where trade animals are transported by road or rail-
(a) horned animals shall either be securely tied or separated by a partition from polled animals;
(b) animals of different sexes or age groups shall also be separated;
(c) cattle shall be separated from sheep, goats and pigs;
(d) to provide adequate ventilation in the lorry, a vehicle of size 7.93m x 2.1m x 2.74m (26'x 7'x 9') shall carry not more than five cattle, sixteen to eighteen calves, 100 -110 pigs (on two decks) and 170 - 190 sheep (on three decks);
(e) the height between two decks shall be at least 0.86m - 1.14m (2'.10" - 3'.9");
(f) vehicles with three decks shall have a permanent roof.
(9) Where trade animals are carried on a vehicle, loading or unloading ramps shall be installed to reduce the incidence of fractures and bruises.
(10)
The person in charge of any trade animal shall, before removing them from any control post, obtain from the authorised officer, a veterinary movement loading permit in the form set out in the Ninth Schedule to this Act (in this Act referred to as "movement permit") in which shall be set out the route to be followed and the control posts through which all the animals shall pass.
[Ninth Schedule.]
(11) Any person in charge of any trade animal shall, until the destination mentioned in the permit has been reached, at all times keep such permit in his possession and shall on demand produce the same for inspection by any authorised officer.
(12)
An anthorised officer shall inspect any trade animal brought to any of the control posts specified in the Third Schedule to this Act and the authorised officer may, if he thinks fit, brand or affix any identification mark to such animals and he may for the cure or prevention of any disease detain such animal for the purpose of observation or treatment at a control post.
[Third Schedule.)