The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018

Powers of inspectors

15.—(1) Inspectors may—

(a) seize any—

(i) animal;

(ii) body of an animal and any parts of the body (including the blood and the hide) and any semen, embryo or ovum;

(iii) animal protein or feedingstuffs that may contain animal protein; or

(iv) milk or milk product,

and dispose of them or arrange their disposal as necessary;

(b) carry out any inquiries, investigations, examinations and tests;

(c) collect, pen and inspect any animal and for this purpose may require the keeper of any such animal to arrange for the collection and penning of the animal;

(d) inspect any body of an animal and any parts of the body (including the blood and the hide) and any semen, embryo or ovum;

(e) inspect any part of the premises, any equipment, facility, operation or procedure;

(f) take any samples;

(g) have access to, inspect and copy any records (in whatever form they are held) in order to determine if these Regulations are being complied with, including records kept under the EU TSE Regulation and these Regulations, or remove such records to enable them to be copied;

(h) have access to, inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material that is or has been in use in connection with any record; and for this purpose may require any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material to afford the inspectors such assistance as they may reasonably require (including the provision of any necessary passwords) and, where a record is kept by means of a computer, may require the records to be produced in a form in which they may be taken away;

(i) mark or tag anything (including an animal) whether electronically or otherwise, for identification purposes; and

(j) lock or seal any container or store.

(2) Any person who defaces, obliterates, or removes any mark, tag, seal or lock applied under paragraph (1) is guilty of an offence.

(3) Inspectors are not personally liable for anything they do—

(a) in the execution or purported execution of these Regulations; and

(b) within the scope of their employment,

if they acted in the honest belief that their duty under these Regulations required or entitled them to do it; but this does not affect any liability of their employer.