The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013

Powers of an inspector

35.—(1) An inspector entering premises under the previous regulation may—

(a) inspect the premises, and any plant, machinery or equipment;

(b) search the premises;

(c) take samples;

(d) seize any computers and associated equipment;

(e) seize any veterinary medicinal product or any additive to which Schedule 5 applies, if it is not authorised in the United Kingdom;

(f) seize any premixture or feedingstuff that contains a veterinary medicinal product or additive to which Schedule 5 applies that is not authorised in the United Kingdom;

(g) seize any veterinary medicinal product, any additive to which Schedule 5 applies, any premixture or feedingstuff if—

(i) it has not been lawfully manufactured, incorporated or supplied in accordance with these Regulations;

(ii) it has been stored in a way that affects its safety, quality or efficacy; or

(iii) it is sold or offered for sale by a person not permitted to supply it under these Regulations;

(h) carry out any inquiries, examinations and tests;

(i) have access to, and inspect and copy or seize any documents or records (in whatever form they are held) relating to these Regulations; and

(j) 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 the records; 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 such assistance as may reasonably be required 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.

(2) The powers of seizure under sub-paragraph (1)(e), (f) and (g) include a power to seize anything which purports to be, or which an inspector reasonably believes to be, something the inspector is entitled to seize under these powers.

(3) An officer of any local authority who has entered premises exercising any statutory power of entry for the purposes of enforcing any legislation relating to food hygiene, feed hygiene or animal health, may inspect any records made under these Regulations (in whatever form they are held) relating to food-producing animals, and may remove them to enable them to be copied.

(4) Where an inspector has entered any premises and it is not reasonably practicable to determine at the time whether documents on those premises are relevant to these Regulations, the inspector may seize them to ascertain whether or not they are relevant.