Article 5U.K.General obligations concerning the competent authorities and the organic control authorities
1.The competent authorities and the organic control authorities shall:
(a)have procedures and/or arrangements in place to ensure the effectiveness and appropriateness of official controls and other official activities;
(b)have procedures and/or arrangements in place to ensure the impartiality, quality and consistency of official controls and other official activities at all levels;
(c)have procedures and/or arrangements in place to ensure that staff performing official controls and other official activities are free from any conflict of interest;
(d)have, or have access to, an adequate laboratory capacity for analysis, testing and diagnosis;
(e)have, or have access to, a sufficient number of suitably qualified and experienced staff so that official controls and other official activities can be performed efficiently and effectively;
(f)have appropriate and properly maintained facilities and equipment to ensure that staff can perform official controls and other official activities efficiently and effectively;
(g)have the legal powers to perform official controls and other official activities and to take the action provided for in this Regulation and in the rules referred to in Article 1(2);
(h)have legal procedures in place in order to ensure that staff have access to the premises of, and documents kept by, operators so as to be able to accomplish their tasks properly;
(i)have contingency plans in place, and be prepared to operate such plans in the event of an emergency, where appropriate, in accordance with the rules referred to in Article 1(2).
2.Any appointment of an official veterinarian shall be in writing and shall set out the official controls and the other official activities and related tasks for which the appointment has been made. Requirements imposed on staff of competent authorities that are provided for in this Regulation, including the requirement on freedom from any conflict of interest, shall apply to all official veterinarians.
3.Any appointment of an official plant health officer shall be in writing and shall set out the official controls and the other official activities and related tasks for which the appointment has been made. Requirements imposed on staff of competent authorities that are provided for in this Regulation, including the requirement on freedom from any conflict of interest, shall apply to all official plant health officers.
4.Staff performing official controls and other official activities shall:
(a)receive, for their area of competence, appropriate training enabling them to undertake their duties competently and to perform official controls and other official activities in a consistent manner;
(b)keep up-to-date in their area of competence and receive regular additional training as necessary; and
(c)receive training in the subject matters set out in Chapter I of Annex II and on the obligations of the competent authorities resulting from this Regulation, as appropriate.
Competent authorities, organic control authorities and delegated bodies shall develop and implement training programmes for the purpose of ensuring that staff performing official controls and other official activities receive the training referred to in points (a), (b) and (c).
5.When, within the services of a competent authority, more than one unit is competent to perform official controls or other official activities, efficient and effective coordination and cooperation shall be ensured between the different units.