Agriculture Act 1970

83 Exercise of powers by inspectors. U.K.

(1) An inspector exercising his powers under this Part of this Act shall, if so required, produce written evidence of his authority.

(2) Any person who wilfully obstructs an inspector in the exercise of his powers under this Part of this Act shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1 level 3 on the standard scale].

(3) Any person who, not being an inspector, purports to act as such under this Part of this Act shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F2 level 4 on the standard scale] or, on a second or subsequent conviction under this subsection, to a fine not exceeding [F2 level 4 on the standard scale] or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or both.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, if any person discloses to any other person—

(a) any information with respect to any manufacturing process or trade secret obtained by him in premises which he has entered by virtue of this Part of this Act; or

(b) any information obtained by him in pursuance of this Part of this Act,

then, unless the disclosure was made in and for the purpose of the performance by him or any other person of functions under this Part of this Act, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F3 level 5 on the standard scale].

(5) Subsection (4) of this section shall not prevent an inspector who has taken a sample of any material under section 76(4) of this Act from disclosing to the manufacturer or to the last seller of the material information as to the place where and the person from whom the sample was taken or from disclosing to that manufacturer or last seller or to any person who had the material on his premises for the purpose of sale information as to the results of any analysis of that sample.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46, (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6

F2 Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46, (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289E–289G and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6

F3 Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46, (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 83 modified (8.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2325, regs. 7(1)(2), 12

C2 S. 83 applied (22.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2840, reg. 21(4) (with reg. 22) (which was revoked (30.6.1995) by S.I. 1995/1412, reg. 25 (with reg. 23)); (N.I.) by S.R. 1992/270, reg. 21(4) (with reg. 22) (which was revoked (15.1.1996) by S.R. 1995/451, reg. 25 (with reg. 23))

C3 S. 83 applied (30.6.1995) by S.I. 1995/1412, reg. 22(5) and expressed to be applied (15.1.1996) (N.I.) by S.R. 1995/451, reg. 22(5)

C4 S. 83 amendment to earlier affecting provision SI 1999/2325 reg. 12 (E.) (9.6.2003) by Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis), the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) and the Feeding Stuffs (Establishments and Intermediaries) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1296), regs. 1, 13

C5 S. 83 amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325 reg. 12 (S.) (26.6.2003) by The Feeding Stuffs (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 (S.S.I. 2003/277), regs. 1(1), 14

C6 S. 83 amendment to earlier affecting provision SI 1999/2325 reg. 12 (W.) (14.7.2003) by Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis), the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) and the Feeding Stuffs (Establishments and Intermediaries) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1677), regs. 1, 13

C7 S. 83 applied (with modifications) (E.) (4.10.2004) by Genetically Modified Animal Feed (England) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2334), regs. 1(b), 6(2)(h)

C8 S. 83 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (8.10.2004) by The Genetically Modified Animal Feed Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (S.R. 2004/386), regs. 1, 6

C9 S. 83 applied (with modifications) (S.) (15.11.2004) by Genetically Modified Animal Feed (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/433), regs. 1(1), 6(1)(a)(vii)

C10 S. 83 applied (with modifications) (W.) (17.12.2004) by The Genetically Modified Animal Feed (Wales) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3221), regs. 1(b), 6(2)(h)

C11 S. 83 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (1.1.2005) by The Feeding Stuffs (Safety Requirements for Feed for Food-Producing Animals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (S.R. 2004/506), regs. 1(1), 4(1), 4(2)

C12 S. 83 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.1.2005) by Feeding Stuffs (Safety Requirements for Feed for Food-Producing Animals) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3254), regs. 1, 4(2)(i)

C13 S. 83 applied (with modifications) (E.) (30.4.2005) by Feed (Corn Gluten Feed and Brewers Grains) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1265), regs. 1(1), 5

C14 S. 83 applied (with modifications) (S.) (6.5.2005) by Feed (Corn Gluten Feed and Brewers Grains) (Emergency Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (S.S.I. 2005/246), regs. 1(1), 5

C15 S. 83 applied (with modifications) (W.) (13.5.2005) by The Feed (Corn Gluten Feed and Brewers Grains) (Emergency Control) (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1323), regs. 1(1), 5(1), 5(2)(h)

C16 S. 83 amendment to earlier affecting provision S.R. 2004/386 reg. 6 (N.I.) (11.10.2010) by The Feed (Sampling and Analysis and Specified Undesirable Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/323), regs. 1, 21(2)

C17 S. 83(3): Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 35 (in relation to liability on first and subsequent convictions) and S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3) art. 9 (in relation to liability on first and subsequent convictions) applies (N.I)

C18 S. 83(3): Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), s. 289E, (in relation to liability on first and subsequent convictions), applies (S.)