1) Vehicles taken on to the premises should, wherever possible, be parked on hard standing away from farm animals and must be visibly free of animal excreta, slurry etc.  Vehicles should not normally be taken into areas where farm animals have access. Before leaving the premises all visible contamination with manure, slurry or similar material should be removed (including where appropriate, cleaning of the inside of the vehicles, especially foot wells and pedals). 

2) Suitable protective clothing and footwear must be worn on all premises where visits include entering areas where farm animals are present or to which they normally have access.  The type of protective clothing and footwear required depends on the nature of the visit.

3) The purpose of the protective clothing and footwear is to prevent any contamination being carried from premises to premises.  Protective clothing and footwear may be disposable or re-usable.  The following are examples of types of protective clothing:

a) Disposable boiler type suits.  These can be used once and should be discarded at the end of the visit to the premises.  They can be left on the premises with the owner’s agreement or bagged and suitably disposed of later, as can disposable overshoes for footwear.

b) Non-disposable protective clothing (eg cotton boiler suits or cotton coats) These may be used once and should be laundered before being used on any other livestock premises

c) Waterproof protective clothing and waterproof boots.  These should be cleansed and disinfected with a DARD approved disinfectant (details on DARD website) before entering the premises and again at the end of the visit just before leaving the premises.

Preferably carry out cleansing and disinfection in front of the herd/flock keeper

• It is recommended that either non-disposable protective clothing or waterproof protective clothing and waterproof boots are worn.
• Sufficient water, disinfectant and disinfecting equipment should be taken on the visit, even if facilities for disinfecting clothes, footwear, equipment or vehicles are thought to be available on the premises.
• A clean bucket and brush capable of dislodging manure and other debris from the soles of boots should be carried with you.

4) Hands should also be washed thoroughly after handling animals.

5) Any professional or lay assistant accompanying private veterinary practitioner on visits must observe the same hygienic precautions.

6) All equipment used on farm must be cleansed and disinfected on arrival and again before leaving the premises.