Agriculture Act 1970

67 Enforcement authorities and appointment of inspectors and analysts

(1) In England and Wales it shall be the duty of the council of a county, county borough or London borough and of the Common Council of the City of London to enforce this Part of this Act within their respective areas; and the health authority of the Port of London shall have the like duty as respects the district of the Port of London, which shall accordingly be treated for the purposes of this subsection as not forming part of the area of any of those councils.

(2) In Scotland it shall be the duty of the town council as respects a large burgh within the meaning of the [1947 c. 43.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947, and the county council as respects a county inclusive of any burgh other than as aforesaid, to enforce this Part of this Act within their respective areas.

(3) For the purpose of performing their duty under the foregoing provisions of this section each of the bodies there mentioned (in this Part of this Act referred to as an enforcement authority) shall appoint—

(a) such inspectors as may be necessary; and

(b) an agricultural analyst and, if they think fit, one or more deputy agricultural analysts.

(4) An inspector shall not exercise his powers under this Part of this Act in respect of any premises outside the area for which he is appointed except with the consent of the enforcement authority for the area in which those premises are situated.

(5) A person shall not be appointed as agricultural analyst or deputy agricultural analyst unless he has the prescribed qualifications.

(6) A person may be appointed as an inspector or as agricultural analyst or deputy agricultural analyst for the areas of two or more enforcement authorities by those authorities acting jointly.

(7) Each enforcement authority shall, whenever the Minister so directs, make to him a report on the exercise of their functions under this Part of this Act in such form and containing such particulars as he may direct, and the agricultural analyst for the area of the authority shall furnish to the authority such information as may be necessary for the report.

(8) If the Minister is of opinion that this Part of this Act has been insufficiently enforced in the area of any enforcement authority he may himself appoint one or more inspectors to exercise in that area the powers exercisable by inspectors appointed by the authority; and any expenses certified by him as having been incurred by him under this subsection in respect of that area shall be repaid to him, on demand, by the authority in question.

(9) Nothing in this section shall be taken as authorising an enforcement authority in Scotland to institute proceedings for an offence.