Destructive Insects Act 1877

JurisdictionUK Non-devolved
Citation1877 c. 68


Destructive Insects Act, 1877

(40 & 41 Vict.) 68.

An Act for preventing the introduction and spreading of Insects destructive to Crops.

[14th August 1877]

B E it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Great Britain.

Great Britain.

S-1 Power to Privy Council to make Orders for preventing introduction of destructive insects.

1 Power to Privy Council to make Orders for preventing introduction of destructive insects.

1. The Lords and others of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council (in this Act referred to as the Privy Council) may from time to time make such Orders as they think expedient for preventing the introduction into Great Britain of the insect designated as Doryphora decemlineata, and commonly called the Colorado beetle.

Any such Order, if the Privy Council think fit, may prohibit or regulate the landing in Great Britain of potatoes, or of the stalks and leaves of potatoes, or other vegetable substance, or other article, brought from any place out of Great Britain, the landing whereof may appear to the Privy Council likely to introduce the said insect into Great Britain, and may direct or authorise the destruction of any such article, if landed.

If any person lands or attempts to land any article in contravention of any Order under this Act, such article shall be liable to be forfeited in like manner as goods the importation whereof is prohibited by the Acts relating to the Customs are liable to be forfeited; and the person so offending shall be liable, according to those Acts, to such penalties as are imposed on persons importing or attempting to import goods the importation whereof is prohibited by those Acts.

S-2 Power to Privy Council to make Orders for preventing spreading of destructive insects.

2 Power to Privy Council to make Orders for preventing spreading of destructive insects.

2. The Privy Council may from time to time make such Orders as they think expedient for preventing the spreading in Great Britain of the said insect.

Any such Order may, if the Privy Council think fit, direct or authorise the removal or destruction of any crop of potatoes or other crop or substance on which the said insect in any stage of existence is found, or to or by means of which the said insect may appear to the Privy Council likely to spread, and the entering on any lands for the purpose of such removal or destruction, or for the purpose of any examination or inquiry authorised by the Order, or for any other purpose of the Order.

Any such Order may, if the Privy Council think fit, prohibit the keeping, selling, or exposing or offering for sale, or the keeping of living specimens of the said insect, in any stage of existence, or the distribution in any manner of such specimens.

Any such Order may impose penalties for offences against the Order, not exceeding ten pounds for any offence; and those penalties shall by virtue of this Act be recoverable, with costs, on summary conviction before two justices of the peace, and shall be applied as penalties recovered under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1869, are applicable.

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