The Animal Feed (Hygiene, Sampling etc. and Enforcement) (Wales) Regulations 2016

PART 1 E+W Introductory

Title, commencement and application E+W

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the Animal Feed (Hygiene, Sampling etc. and Enforcement) (Wales) Regulations 2016.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 12 May 2016 and apply in relation to Wales.

Interpretation and scope E+W

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the Act” (“y Ddeddf”) means the Agriculture Act 1970;

“the Agency” (“yr Asiantaeth”) means the Food Standards Agency;

“analyst” (“dadansoddwr”) means an agricultural analyst or a deputy agricultural analyst;

“authorised officer” (“swyddog awdurdodedig”) means a person (whether or not an officer of the enforcement authority) who is authorised by the enforcement authority, either generally or specially, to act in relation to matters arising under these Regulations;

“enforcement authority” (“awdurdod gorfodi”) means the body identified as having a duty to enforce under regulation 21;

“feed authority” (“awdurdod bwyd anifeiliaid”) means an authority identified in section [F1 67(1A)] of the Act as having the duty to enforce Part IV of that Act within its area;

“premises” (“mangre”) includes any establishment, any place, vehicle, stall or moveable structure and any ship or aircraft;

“prescribed manner” (“modd rhagnodedig”) means the manner prescribed by Regulation 152/2009;

F2 ...

“Regulation 183/2005” (“Rheoliad 183/2005”) means Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down requirements for feed hygiene M1 ;

“Regulation 152/2009” (“Rheoliad 152/2009”) means Commission Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 laying down the methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of feed M2 ;

[F3 “Regulation 767/2009” (“Rheoliad 767/2009”) means Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the placing on the market and use of feed, amending European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 and repealing Council Directive 79/373/EEC, Commission Directive 80/511/EEC, Council Directives 82/471/EEC, 83/228/EEC, 93/74/EEC, 93/113/EC and 96/25/EC and Commission Decision 2004/217/EC;]

[F4 “Regulation 2017/625” (“Rheoliad 2017/625”) means Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products protection products;]

[F4 “Regulation 2019/1793” (“Rheoliad 2019/1793”) means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into the Union of certain goods from certain third countries;]

“specified feed law” (“cyfraith bwyd anifeiliaid benodedig”) means the instruments specified in Schedule 1.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), any other expression used in these Regulations and in [F5 Regulation 183/2005, Regulation 152/2009 and Regulation 2017/625] has the same meaning in these Regulations as it does in that Regulation.

(3) Where, apart from this paragraph, any period of less than seven days which is specified in these Regulations would include any day which is—

(a) a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day or Good Friday; or

(b) a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971,

that day is to be excluded from the period.

(4) In these Regulations “feed” (“bwyd anifeiliaid”) or “feeding stuff” (“porthiant”) does not include any of the following feed additives or premixtures consisting solely of such additives—

(a) coccidiostats;

(b) histomonostats; and

(c) all other zootechnical additives except—

(i) digestibility enhancers,

(ii) gut flora stabilisers, and

(iii) substances incorporated into feed with the intention of favourably affecting the environment.

[F6 (5) Any reference in these Regulations to [F7 a] F8 ... Regulation specified in Schedule 1 is a reference to that F8 ... Regulation as it may be amended from time to time.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in reg. 2(1) substituted (31.12.2022) by The Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1362), regs. 1, 5(2)(a)

F2 Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Official Feed and Food Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1487), regs. 1(2), 4(2)(a)(i)

F3 Words in reg. 2(1) substituted (26.7.2018) by The Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments and Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/806), regs. 1(3), 28(2)(b)

F4 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Official Feed and Food Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1487), regs. 1(2), 4(2)(a)(ii)

F5 Words in reg. 2(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Feed and Food Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1487), regs. 1(2), 4(2)(b)

F6 Reg. 2(5) substituted (25.12.2020) by The Animal Feed (Particular Nutritional Purposes and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1381), regs. 1, 3(2)

F7 Word in reg. 2(5) substituted (31.12.2022) by The Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1362), regs. 1, 5(2)(b)(i)

F8 Word in reg. 2(5) omitted (31.12.2022) by virtue of The Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1362), regs. 1, 5(2)(b)(ii)

Marginal Citations

M1 OJ No L 35, 8.2.2005, p 1. This Regulation was last amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 2015/1905 (OJ No L 278, 23.10.2015, p 5).

M2 OJ No L 54, 26.2.2009, p 1. This Regulation was last amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 709/2014 (OJ No L 188, 27.6.2014, p 1).

PART 2 E+W Requirements for feed hygiene, registration and approval

Scope and interpretation of Part 2 E+W

3.—(1) This Part does not apply to the activities mentioned in Article 2(2) of Regulation 183/2005.

(2) Any reference in this Part or in Schedule 2 to a numbered Article or Annex is a reference to the Article or Annex so numbered in Regulation 183/2005.

Competent authorities E+W

4.—(1) The competent authorities for the purposes of specified Articles are—

(a) in respect of Articles 9(1) and (3), 18(3), [F9 19(3) and (7) and 21(1)], the Agency and the enforcement authority;

(b) in respect of Articles 7, 9(2), 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18(1), (2) and (4) and 19(2), the enforcement authority; and

(c) in respect of Article 19(1), the Agency.

(2) The competent authorities for the purposes of the section headed “Dioxin Monitoring for Oils, Fats and Derived Products” in Annex II are—

(a) in respect of paragraph [F10 2(f)], the enforcement authority; and

(b) in respect of paragraph 7, the enforcement authority and the Agency.

Textual Amendments

F9 Words in reg. 4(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2022) by The Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1362), regs. 1, 5(3)

F10 Word in reg. 4(2)(a) substituted (26.7.2018) by The Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments and Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/806), regs. 1(3), 28(3)

Enforcement of specified provisions of Regulation 183/2005 E+W

5.  A person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of Regulation 183/2005 specified in the first column of Table 1 or Table 2 of Schedule 2 commits an offence.

Form of notification with a view to registration E+W

6.  A person who is required under Article 9 (official controls, notification and registration) to notify the enforcement authority of the information mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) or (b) of that Article must ensure that any such notification—

(a) is in writing and signed by that person or on their behalf;

(b) contains that person's name and, if different, that person's business name;

(c) contains that person's address and, if different, the address of any establishment to which the notification relates;

(d) identifies the feed business activities in such form as may be required by the enforcement authority; and

(e) is properly directed to the enforcement authority for the area in which the establishment to which the notification relates is situated.

Form of application for approval E+W

7.  Where approval of a feed business establishment is required pursuant to Article 10, an application to the enforcement authority for the area in which the establishment is located must be made which—

(a) is in writing and signed by or on behalf of the applicant;

(b) contains the name or business name and the address of the applicant and, if different, the address of the establishment;

(c) identifies which of the feed business activities specified in Article 10(1) or as may be specified pursuant to Article 10(3) the applicant is exercising or intends to exercise and for which approval is sought;

(d) in the case of a person to whom Article 17(2) (exemption from on-site visits) applies, includes a statement to the effect that the establishment is one to which Article 17(1) applies and a declaration of compliance as required by paragraph (2) of that Article; and

(e) is properly directed to the enforcement authority for the area in which the establishment to which the declaration relates is situated.

Procedure for suspension of registration or approval E+W

8.—(1) Where an enforcement authority proposes to take action pursuant to Article 14 (temporary suspension of registration or approval) it must serve on the feed business operator a notice in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) A notice served under paragraph (1) must—

(a) specify the operative date of the notice (“the operative date”);

(b) state that on the operative date the enforcement authority intends to suspend the registration or approval of the establishment pursuant to Article 14 and these Regulations;

(c) specify the feed business activity or activities to which the notice relates;

(d) identify the remedial action required;

(e) state that unless remedial action has been carried out to the satisfaction of the enforcement authority within one year of the operative date, the registration or approval will be revoked without further notice on the first anniversary of the operative date; and

(f) provide information on the time limit for appealing under regulation 12.

Procedure for lifting of suspension E+W

9.  Where the enforcement authority that has served notice on a feed business operator under regulation 8 is satisfied that—

(a) the remedial action required under paragraph (2)(e) of that regulation has been carried out; and

(b) the period for action specified in that paragraph has not expired,

it must immediately lift the suspension and notify the feed business operator to that effect.

Procedure for the revocation of registration or approval E+W

10.—(1) Where an enforcement authority proposes to take action in the circumstances set out in Article 15 (revocation of registration or approval) it must serve on the feed business operator a notice in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) A notice served under paragraph (1) must—

(a) specify the operative date of the notice;

(b) state that the registration or approval as the case may be has been revoked;

(c) specify the feed business activity or activities to which the revocation relates;

(d) identify which of the conditions of revocation set out in Article 15 is applicable;

(e) provide information on the time limits for appealing under regulation 12.

(3) Where an enforcement authority has revoked a registration or approval under this regulation it must—

(a) make the appropriate amendments to its own register of feed business establishments; and

(b) promptly transmit to the Agency the necessary information to ensure compliance with Article 19(3) (updating of national lists).

Form of application for amendments to registration or approval E+W

11.  Where a feed business operator wishes to apply for amendments to registration or approval pursuant to Article 16 (amendments to registration or approval of an establishment), an application to the enforcement authority for the area in which the relevant feed business establishment is located must be made which—

(a) is signed by or on behalf of the applicant;

(b) contains the name or business name and the address of the applicant and, if different, the address of the establishment;

(c) identifies the activities to which the application for amendments relates;

(d) is properly addressed to the enforcement authority for the area in which the establishment to which the application relates is situated.

Rights of appeal in connection with registration or approval E+W

12.—(1) Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of an enforcement authority taken in respect of—

(a) the approval of an establishment under Article 13;

(b) suspension of the registration or approval of an establishment under Article 14;

(c) revocation of the registration or approval of an establishment under Article 15; or

(d) amendment of the approval of an establishment under Article 16,

may appeal to a magistrates' court.

(2) The procedure on appeal to a magistrates' court under paragraph (1) is by way of complaint for an order, and the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 M3 applies to the proceedings.

(3) The period within which an appeal under paragraph (1) may be brought is one month from the date on which notice of the decision was served on the person wishing to appeal and the making of a complaint for an order is deemed for the purposes of this paragraph to be the bringing of the appeal.

(4) Where on an appeal under paragraph (1) a magistrates' court determines that the decision of the enforcement authority is incorrect, the authority must give effect to the determination of the court.

(5) Where a registration or an approval is suspended or revoked, the feed business operator who, immediately before such suspension or revocation, had been operating the establishment concerned may continue to operate it, subject to any conditions imposed by the enforcement authority for the protection of public health, unless—

(a) the time limit for appealing against the decision to suspend or revoke registration or approval has expired without an appeal having been brought; or

(b) where an appeal against that decision has been brought, the appeal has been finally disposed of or abandoned.

(6) Nothing in paragraph (5) permits the operation of a feed business establishment if a feed business prohibition order, a feed business emergency prohibition notice or a feed business emergency prohibition order has been imposed in relation to that establishment.

Marginal Citations

M3 1980 c. 43.

Fees for approvals or amendments to approvals E+W

13.—(1) A feed business operator who applies to an enforcement authority for an approval or amendment to an approval must—

(a) pay the relevant fee when the application is submitted; and

(b) reimburse the enforcement authority on demand the cost of any laboratory analysis incurred by it in connection with the application.

(2) In relation to any such application referred to in paragraph (1) submitted to it, the enforcement authority need not—

(a) take any steps to approve an establishment in respect of one or more of its feed business activities until the relevant fee has been paid to it; nor

(b) approve an establishment in respect of one or more of its feed business activities until it has been reimbursed in accordance with paragraph (1)(b).

(3) Where the establishment in relation to which approval or amendment to approval is sought is one at which more than one feed business activity requiring approval may be exercised, the feed business operator is liable to pay a single relevant fee, which fee shall be the highest one otherwise payable.

(4) In this regulation “relevant fee” (“ffi berthnasol”) means the appropriate fee specified in Schedule 3.

PART 3 E+W Sampling and analysis

Appointment and qualifications of agricultural analysts E+W

14.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), an enforcement authority must appoint one or more agricultural analysts in connection with its duty under regulation 21 (duty to enforce).

(2) An agricultural analyst already appointed by an enforcement authority under section 67(3)(b) of the Act is deemed to be appointed for the purposes of paragraph (1).

(3) An agricultural analyst appointed under paragraph (1) must have the qualifications and attested experience specified in paragraph (4).

(4) The prescribed qualifications for an analyst for the purposes of section 67(5) of the Act in so far is it relates to feeding stuffs and the required qualifications for a person analysing feed for the purposes of these Regulations are that—

(a) the analyst must—

(i) be a Chartered Chemist or possess a Mastership in Chemical Analysis awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry, and

(ii) be a Fellow or Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry; and

(b) the analyst's practical experience of the examination of feed must be attested by another analyst lawfully appointed under section 67(3) of the Act or these Regulations.

Procedure relating to samples for analysis E+W

15.—(1) Where an authorised officer obtains a sample and decides to have it analysed for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been any contravention of specified feed law, the officer must divide the sample into three parts of as near as may be equal size and—

(a) cause each part to be marked, sealed and fastened in the prescribed manner;

(b) send one part for analysis to the agricultural analyst for the area of the enforcement authority from which the authorised officer derives his or her authority;

[F11 (c) send another part to—

(i) the person on whose premises the material was sampled or to that person’s agent; or

(ii) the person who offered the material for sale by means of distance communication if the material was ordered from such a person or to that person’s agent; and]

(d) retain and preserve the remaining part as an officially sealed reference sample.

(2) If the person who manufactured any material sampled under these Regulations is not a person to whom part of the sample should be sent under paragraph (1), that paragraph has effect as if for the reference to three parts there were substituted a reference to four parts, and the authorised officer must within fourteen days of the date of sampling send the fourth part to the manufacturer, unless the officer does not know and is unable to ascertain after making reasonable enquiries the identity or the address in the United Kingdom of the manufacturer.

(3) The part of the sample sent to the agricultural analyst must be accompanied by a statement signed by the authorised officer confirming that the sample was taken in the prescribed manner.

(4) The agricultural analyst must analyse the part of the sample sent under paragraph (1)(b), and send a certificate of analysis to the authorised officer, who must send a copy to—

[F12 (a) the person on whose premises the material was sampled or that person’s agent;

(b) the person who offered the material for sale by means of distance communication if the material was ordered from such a person or to that person’s agent; and

(c) if part of the sample was sent under paragraph (2), to the person to whom that part was sent.]

(5) Any analysis required to be made under paragraph (4) may be performed by any person acting under the direction of the agricultural analyst.

(6) If the agricultural analyst to whom the sample was sent under paragraph (1)(b) determines that an effective analysis of the sample cannot be performed by him or her or under his or her direction, that analyst must send it to the agricultural analyst for another area, together with any documents received with the sample, and paragraph (4) then applies as if the sample had originally been sent to that other analyst.

Textual Amendments

F11 Reg. 15(1)(c) substituted (14.12.2019) by The Official Feed and Food Controls (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1482), regs. 1(1), 40(a)

F12 Reg. 15(4)(a)-(c) substituted for reg. 15(4)(a)(b) (14.12.2019) by The Official Feed and Food Controls (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1482), regs. 1(1), 40(b)

Secondary analysis by the Government Chemist E+W

16.—(1) Where a part of a sample sent under regulation 15(1)(b) has been analysed and—

(a) proceedings are intended to be or have been commenced against a person for an offence under specified feed law; and

(b) the prosecution intends to adduce evidence of the result of the analysis of that part of the sample,

paragraphs (2) to (6) apply.

(2) The authorised officer—

(a) may, of his or her own volition;

(b) must, if requested by the prosecutor (if a person other than the authorised officer); or

(c) must (subject to paragraph (6)) if requested by the defendant,

send the retained part of the sample to be analysed by the Government Chemist.

(3) The Government Chemist must analyse in the prescribed manner the part of the sample sent under paragraph (2) and send to the authorised officer a certificate of the analysis which must be signed by the Government Chemist or by a person authorised by the Government Chemist to sign.

(4) An analysis required to be made under paragraph (3) may be performed by a person acting under the direction of the Government Chemist.

(5) The authorised officer must immediately on receipt supply the prosecutor (if a person other than the authorised officer) and the defendant with a copy of the Government Chemist's certificate of analysis.

(6) Where a request is made under paragraph (2)(c), the authorised officer may give notice in writing to the defendant requesting payment of a fee specified in the notice in respect of the functions mentioned in paragraph (3), and if the specified fee does not exceed either—

(a) the cost of performing those functions; or

(b) the appropriate fee for the performance of any similar function under section 78 of the Act,

the authorised officer may in the absence of agreement by the defendant to pay the fee refuse to comply with the request made under paragraph (2)(c).

(7) In this regulation—

“defendant” (“diffynnydd”) includes a prospective defendant; and

“the appropriate fee” (“y ffi briodol”) means such fee as may be fixed in accordance with the provisions of section 78(10) of the Act.

Methods of sending a final sample E+W

17.  A final sample required to be sent to a person pursuant to—

(a) paragraph 8 of Annex I to Regulation 152/2009;

(b) section 77(1) or (2) or section 78(1)(a), (2) or (4) of the Act; or

(c) regulation 15(1), (2) or (6) or 16(2),

may be sent by any appropriate method that maintains the integrity of the sample prior to analysis, or delivered by hand.

Form and status of certificate of analysis E+W

18.—(1) The certificate of analysis of any feed to be sent pursuant to—

(a) section 77(4) of the Act; or

(b) regulation 15(4) or 16(3),

must be in the form set out in Schedule 4 and must be completed in accordance with the notes to that Schedule and with paragraphs 4 and 5 of Part C of Annex II to Regulation 152/2009.

(2) A certificate of analysis by an agricultural analyst or the Government Chemist is to be received, in any proceedings, as evidence of the facts stated in the certificate if the party against whom it is to be given in evidence—

(a) has been served with a copy of it not less than twenty-one days before the hearing; and

(b) has not, before the seventh day preceding the hearing, served on the other party a notice requiring the attendance of the person who made the analysis.

(3) Any document purporting to be a certificate of analysis for the purposes of paragraph (2) is to be deemed to be such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.

Analysis other than in the course of official controls E+W

19.—(1) Where a sample of feed is to be analysed pursuant to—

(a) section 75(1) of the Act (sample analysed at the request of the purchaser); or

(b) section 78(1) of the Act (further analysis by Government Chemist) in so far as that subsection does not relate to official controls,

the method of analysis must be the appropriate one, if any, set out in Regulation 152/2009.

[F13 (2) In cases where there is no appropriate method of analysis in Regulation 152/2009, the analysis must be carried out in the manner referred to in Article 34(1) and (2) of Regulation 2017/625 as read with Regulation 2019/1793.]

Textual Amendments

F13 Reg. 19(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Feed and Food Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1487), regs. 1(2), 4(3)

Offence of tampering with a sample E+W

20.  A person who—

(a) tampers with any material so as to procure that any sample of it taken or submitted for analysis under these Regulations does not correctly represent the material; or

(b) tampers or interferes with any sample taken or submitted for analysis under these Regulations,

commits an offence.

PART 4 E+W Duties of execution and enforcement

Duty to enforce E+W

21.  It is the duty of each feed authority within its area to execute and enforce the provisions of these Regulations and Regulation 183/2005.

Welsh Ministers' default powers and area of authorised officers' powers E+W

22.—(1) If the Welsh Ministers consider that specified feed law other than the Act has been insufficiently enforced in the area of any enforcement authority the Welsh Ministers may appoint one or more persons to exercise in that area the powers exercisable by authorised officers appointed by the authority. Any expenses certified by the Welsh Ministers as having been incurred by them under this regulation in respect of that area must be repaid to the Welsh Ministers on demand by the authority in question.

(2) An authorised officer may not exercise powers under these Regulations in respect of any premises outside the area for which that officer is appointed except with the consent of the enforcement authority for the area in which those premises are situated.

Protection of authorised officers acting in good faith E+W

23.—(1) An authorised officer is not personally liable in respect of any act done—

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

(b) within the scope of the officer's employment,

if the officer did that act in the honest belief that the duty under these Regulations required or entitled the officer to do it.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) is to be construed as relieving any enforcement authority of any liability in respect of the acts of its officers.

(3) Where an action has been brought against an authorised officer in respect of an act done—

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

(b) outside the scope of the officer's employment,

the authority may indemnify the officer against the whole or a part of any damages ordered to be paid or any costs incurred if it is satisfied that the officer honestly believed that the act complained of was within the scope of the officer's employment.

(4) An agricultural analyst is to be treated for the purposes of this regulation as being an authorised officer, whether or not the appointment is a whole-time one.

PART 5 E+W Enforcement powers and related provisions

Feed business improvement notices E+W

24.—(1) If an authorised officer has reasonable grounds for believing that a feed business operator is failing to comply with specified feed law, the officer may by a notice served on that person (in these Regulations referred to as a “ feed business improvement notice”)—

(a) state the officer's grounds for believing that the feed business operator is failing to comply with specified feed law;

(b) specify the matters which constitute the feed business operator's failure to comply;

(c) specify the measures which, in the officer's opinion, the feed business operator must take in order to secure compliance; and

(d) require the feed business operator to take those measures, or measures which are at least equivalent to them, within such period (not being less than fourteen days) as may be specified in the notice.

(2) A feed business improvement notice must state the right to appeal under regulation 25 and the appropriate time limit for bringing any such appeal.

(3) A person who fails to comply with a feed business improvement notice commits an offence.

Right of appeal against feed business improvement notices E+W

25.—(1) A person who is aggrieved by a decision of an authorised officer to serve a feed business improvement notice may appeal to a magistrates' court.

(2) The procedure on an appeal to a magistrates' court under paragraph (1) is by way of complaint for an order, and the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 applies to the proceedings.

(3) The period within which an appeal under paragraph (1) may be brought is—

(a) one month from the date on which notice of the decision was served on the person wishing to appeal; or

(b) if it is shorter, the period specified in the notice pursuant to regulation 24(1)(d),

and the making of a complaint for an order is deemed for the purposes of this paragraph to be the bringing of the appeal.

Appeals to the Crown Court E+W

26.  A person who is aggrieved by—

(a) the decision of a magistrates' court to dismiss an appeal to it under regulation 12(1) or 25(1); or

(b) any decision of such a court to make a feed business prohibition order or a feed business emergency prohibition order,

may appeal to the Crown Court.

Further provisions relating to appeals E+W

27.—(1) On an appeal against a feed business improvement notice the court may cancel or affirm the notice and, if it affirms it, may do so either in its original form or with such modifications as the court may in the circumstances think fit.

(2) Where any period specified in a feed business improvement notice pursuant to regulation 24(1)(d) would otherwise include any day on which an appeal against that notice is pending, that day is to be excluded from that period.

(3) An appeal is to be regarded as pending for the purposes of paragraph (2) until it is finally disposed of, is withdrawn or is struck out for want of prosecution.

Feed business prohibition orders E+W

28.—(1) If—

(a) a feed business operator is convicted of an offence under specified feed law; and

(b) the court by or before which the operator is so convicted is satisfied that the health risk condition is fulfilled with respect to the feed business concerned,

the court must by an order impose the appropriate prohibition.

(2) The health risk condition is fulfilled with respect to a feed business if any of the following involves risk of injury to health (including any impairment, whether permanent or temporary), namely—

(a) the use for the purposes of the business of any process or treatment;

(b) the construction of any premises used for the purposes of the business, or the use for those purposes of any equipment; or

(c) the state or condition of any premises or equipment used for the purposes of the business,

and health means the health of an animal or, through the consumption of the products of such animal, human health.

(3) The appropriate prohibition is—

(a) in a case falling within sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2), a prohibition on the use of the process or treatment for the purposes of the business;

(b) in a case falling within sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph, a prohibition on the use of the premises or equipment for the purposes of the business or any other feed business of the same class or description; and

(c) in a case falling within sub-paragraph (c) of that paragraph, a prohibition on the use of the premises or equipment for the purposes of any feed business.

(4) If—

(a) a feed business operator is convicted of an offence under specified feed law; and

(b) the court by or before which the operator is so convicted thinks it proper to do so in all the circumstances of the case,

the court may, by an order, impose a prohibition on the feed business operator participating in the management of any feed business, or any feed business of a class or description specified in the order.

(5) As soon as practicable after the making of an order under paragraph (1) or (4) (in these Regulations referred to as a “feed business prohibition order”), the enforcement authority must—

(a) serve a copy of the order on the relevant feed business operator; and

(b) in the case of an order made under paragraph (1), affix a copy of the order in a conspicuous position on such premises used for the purposes of the feed business as the authority considers appropriate,

and any person who knowingly contravenes such an order commits an offence.

(6) A feed business prohibition order ceases to have effect—

(a) in the case of an order made under paragraph (1), on the issue by the enforcement authority of a certificate to the effect that it is satisfied that the feed business operator has taken sufficient measures to secure that the health risk condition is no longer fulfilled with respect to the feed business; and

(b) in the case of an order made under paragraph (4), on the giving by the court of a direction to that effect.

(7) The enforcement authority must issue a certificate under sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (6) within three days of its being satisfied as mentioned in that sub-paragraph; and on an application by the feed business operator for such a certificate, the authority must—

(a) determine, as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within fourteen days, whether or not it is so satisfied; and

(b) if it determines that it is not so satisfied, give notice to the feed business operator of the reasons for that determination.

(8) The court must give a direction under sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (6) if, on an application by the feed business operator, the court thinks it proper to do so having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including in particular the conduct of the feed business operator since the making of the order; but no such application shall be entertained if it is made—

(a) within six months of the making of the feed business prohibition order; or

(b) within three months of the making by the feed business operator of a previous application for such a direction.

(9) Where a magistrates' court makes an order under regulation 29(2) with respect to any feed business, paragraph (1) will apply as if the feed business operator had been convicted by the court of an offence under specified feed law.

(10) Where the commission of an offence by a feed business operator leads to the conviction of another person pursuant to regulation 35(1), paragraph (4) will apply in relation to that other person as it applies in relation to the feed business operator and any reference in paragraph (5) or (8) to the feed business operator is to be construed accordingly.

Feed business emergency prohibition notices and orders E+W

29.—(1) If an authorised officer of an enforcement authority is satisfied that the health risk condition is fulfilled with respect to a feed business the officer may, by a notice served on the relevant feed business operator (in these Regulations referred to as a “ feed business emergency prohibition notice”), impose the appropriate prohibition.

(2) If a magistrates' court is satisfied, on the application of such an officer, that the health risk condition is fulfilled with respect to any feed business, the court must, by an order (in these Regulations referred to as a “feed business emergency prohibition order”), impose the appropriate prohibition.

(3) Such an officer may not apply for a feed business emergency prohibition order unless, at least one day before the date of the application, the officer has served notice on the relevant feed business operator of the intention to apply for the order.

(4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of regulation 28 apply for the purposes of this regulation as they apply for the purposes of that regulation, but as if the reference in paragraph (2) to risk of injury to health were a reference to imminent risk of such injury.

(5) As soon as practicable after the service of a feed business emergency prohibition notice, an authorised officer of an enforcement authority must affix a copy of the notice in a conspicuous position on such premises used for the purposes of the feed business as the officer considers appropriate; and a person who knowingly contravenes such a notice commits an offence.

(6) As soon as practicable after the making of a feed business emergency prohibition order, an authorised officer of an enforcement authority must—

(a) serve a copy of the order on the relevant feed business operator; and

(b) affix a copy of the order in a conspicuous position on such premises used for the purposes of the feed business as the officer considers appropriate,

and a person who knowingly contravenes such an order commits an offence.

(7) A feed business emergency prohibition notice ceases to have effect—

(a) if no application for a feed business emergency prohibition order is made within the period of three days beginning with the service of the notice, at the end of that period; or

(b) if such an application is so made, on the determination or abandonment of the application.

(8) A feed business emergency prohibition notice or a feed business emergency prohibition order ceases to have effect on the issue by the enforcement authority of a certificate to the effect that it is satisfied that the feed business operator has taken sufficient measures to secure that the health risk condition is no longer fulfilled with respect to the feed business.

(9) The enforcement authority must issue a certificate under paragraph (8) within three days of being satisfied as mentioned in that paragraph; and on an application by the feed business operator for such a certificate, the authority must—

(a) determine as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within fourteen days whether or not it is so satisfied; and

(b) if it determines that it is not so satisfied, give notice to the feed business operator of the reasons for that determination.

(10) Where a feed business emergency prohibition notice is served on a feed business operator, the enforcement authority must compensate the operator in respect of any loss suffered by reason of complying with the notice unless—

(a) an application for a feed business emergency prohibition order is made within the period of three days beginning with the service of the notice; and

(b) the court declares itself satisfied, on the hearing of the application, that the health risk condition was fulfilled with respect to the feed business at the time when the notice was served,

and any disputed question as to the right to or the amount of any compensation payable under this paragraph is to be determined by arbitration.

Powers of entry and inspection E+W

30.—(1) For the purposes of—

(a) executing and enforcing specified feed law; or

(b) carrying out investigations, in accordance with [F14 regulation 15(9) of the Animal Feed (Composition, Marketing and Use) (Wales) Regulations 2016] to determine the source of specified undesirable substances,

an authorised officer may, subject to paragraph (2) and on producing, if requested to do so, some duly authenticated documentation showing the officer's identity and authority, enter premises mentioned in paragraph (3).

(2) The entry of premises under this regulation and otherwise than by warrant signed by a justice must take place—

(a) at reasonable times; and

(b) in the case of audits where prior notification of the occupier is necessary, on prior notice of not less than forty eight hours being given to the occupier.

(3) The premises (not being premises used wholly or mainly as a dwelling) are—

(a) any premises on which the officer has reasonable cause to believe that feed has been, or is being, manufactured or produced, or is being kept for the purpose of being placed on the market, incorporated in another product or used; or

(b) any premises on which the officer has reasonable cause to believe that there is any feed of which the occupier of the premises has possession or control.

(4) If a justice of the peace, on sworn information in writing, is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for entry into any such premises as are mentioned in paragraph (3), and either—

(a) that admission to the premises has been refused, or a refusal is apprehended, and that notice of the intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the occupier; or

(b) that an application for admission or the giving of such a notice would defeat the object of the entry, or that the case is one of urgency, or that the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent,

the justice may by signed warrant authorise the authorised officer to enter the premises, if need be by reasonable force.

(5) Every warrant granted under this regulation shall continue in force for a period of one month.

(6) An authorised officer entering premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may be accompanied by such other persons and take such equipment as may appear to the officer to be necessary and, on leaving the premises, must ensure that the premises are in as close a condition as practicable to that in which the officer found them.

(7) An authorised officer entering premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, has the right to inspect—

(a) any material appearing to be feed;

(b) any article appearing to be a container or package used or intended to be used to store, wrap or package any feed, or to be a label or advertisement used or intended to be used in connection with feed; or

(c) any vehicle, plant or equipment appearing to be used, or intended to be used, in connection with the manufacture, production, storage, transport or use of feed, and any process of manufacture, production, storage, transport or use of feed.

(8) Subject to paragraph (10), an authorised officer entering premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, has the right to take on those premises, in the prescribed manner, a sample of any material appearing to be a feed manufactured, produced, placed on the market or intended to be placed on the market or to be material used, or intended to be used, as feed.

(9) Without prejudice to the authorised officer's powers and duties as to the taking of samples in the prescribed manner, an authorised officer may take a sample in a manner other than that prescribed of any material which has been sold for use as feed or which the officer has reasonable cause to believe to be intended for sale as such.

(10) Where, for the purpose of taking a sample pursuant to paragraph (8) or (9), an authorised officer takes some of it from each of one or more containers, which are exposed for sale by retail, and none of which weighs more than six kilograms, the owner of the container or containers may require the officer to purchase the container or containers on behalf of the authority for which the officer acts.

(11) An authorised officer entering premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, has the right—

(a) to require any person carrying on, or appearing to be carrying on, a feed business, or any person employed in connection with such a business, to produce any record (in whatever form it is held) relating to or arising out of the exercise in the course of that business of any such activity, and of which that person has possession or control; and

(b) to inspect and take copies of any record, or of any entry in any record produced in pursuance of sub-paragraph (a).

(12) An authorised officer exercising the power conferred by paragraph (11) in respect of a record held by means of a computer—

(a) is entitled at any reasonable time to have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and associated apparatus or material which is or has been, or which it appears is or has been, in use in connection with the record in question;

(b) may require—

(i) the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been so used, or

(ii) any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material,

to afford the authorised officer such reasonable assistance as the officer may require for that purpose; and

(c) may require the record, or an extract from the record, to be produced in a form in which it may be taken away.

(13) Where, in the case of a person carrying on, or appearing to carry on, a business which consists of or includes the manufacture of a compound feed—

(a) a requirement is made under paragraph (11)(a) in relation to any feed which is, or appears to be, intended for a particular nutritional purpose; and

(b) at the time the requirement is made, the record in respect of which it is made has been published and is available in accessible form for public use,

the person of whom the requirement is made will be deemed to comply with it if, at the time it is made, that person supplies the authorised officer making it with correct and adequate details of the publication concerned, and of where a copy of it may be obtained.

(14) An authorised officer entering premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, has the right to seize and detain any record which the officer has reasonable cause to believe to be a record which may be required as evidence in proceedings under specified feed law.

(15) On seizing and detaining any record mentioned in paragraph (14), the authorised officer must provide to the occupier a notice containing—

(a) a description of the record; and

(b) a statement that the record will be detained until it is no longer required as evidence in proceedings under specified feed law.

(16) In this regulation—

“compound feed” (“bwyd anifeiliaid cyfansawdd”) has the meaning given in Article 3(2)(h) of Regulation 767/2009; and

“feed which is, or appears to be, intended for a particular nutritional purpose” (“bwyd anifeiliaid a fwriedir, neu sy'n ymddangos fel pe bai wedi ei fwriadu, ar gyfer dibenion maethol penodol”) is to be construed in accordance with the definitions of “feed intended for particular nutritional purposes” in Article 3(2)(o) of that Regulation.

(17) Nothing in this regulation authorises any person, except with the permission of the local authority under the Animal Health Act 1981 M4 , to enter any premises—

(a) on which an animal or bird affected with any disease to which that Act applies is kept; and

(b) which is situated in a place declared under that Act to be infected with such a disease.

Textual Amendments

F14 Words in reg. 30(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2022) by The Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1362), regs. 1, 5(4)

Marginal Citations

M4 1981 c. 22.

Powers of detention and seizure E+W

31.—(1) Where an authorised officer has inspected or sampled any material under these Regulations, paragraphs (2) to (8) apply where, on such an inspection, or upon analysis of samples taken, it appears to the officer that the material fails to comply with the requirements of specified feed law.

(2) The authorised officer may either—

(a) give notice to the person in charge of the material that, until the notice is withdrawn, the material or any specified portion of it—

(i) is not to be used as feed; and

(ii) either is not to be removed or is not to be removed except to some place specified in the notice; or

(b) seize the material in order to have it dealt with by a justice of the peace,

and a person who knowingly contravenes the requirements of a notice under sub-paragraph (a) commits an offence.

(3) An authorised officer who exercises the powers conferred by paragraph (2)(a) must, as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within twenty one days, determine whether or not the officer is satisfied that the material complies with the requirements mentioned in paragraph (1) and—

(a) if so satisfied, immediately withdraw the notice;

(b) if not so satisfied, proceed to have the matter dealt with by a justice of the peace under paragraph (5).

(4) Where the authorised officer exercises the powers conferred by paragraph (2)(b) or takes action under paragraph (3)(b), the officer must inform the person in charge of the material of the intention to have it dealt with by a justice of the peace and—

(a) a person who might be liable under the provisions of specified feed law to a prosecution in respect of the material will, if that person attends before the justice of the peace by whom the material falls to be dealt with, be entitled to be heard and to call witnesses; and

(b) that justice of the peace may, but need not, be a member of the court before which a person is charged with an offence under those provisions in relation to that material.

(5) Subject to paragraph (8), if it appears to a justice of the peace, on the basis of such evidence as the justice considers appropriate in the circumstances, that any material falling to be dealt with by a justice of the peace under this regulation fails to comply with the requirements of specified feed law then the justice must condemn the material and order—

(a) the material to be destroyed or to be so disposed of as to prevent it from being used as food for human consumption or for feed; and

(b) any expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the destruction or disposal to be defrayed by the feed business operator.

(6) If a notice under paragraph (2)(a) is withdrawn, or the justice of the peace by whom any material falls to be dealt with under this regulation refuses to condemn it, the enforcement authority must compensate the owner of the material for any depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the authorised officer.

(7) Any disputed question as to the right or the amount of any compensation payable under paragraph (6) is to be determined by arbitration.

(8) In the case of material referred to in Article 15.1 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on genetically modified food and feed M5 which is the subject of an authorisation granted under that Regulation and has been produced in accordance with any conditions relating to that authorisation but does not bear the appropriate labelling as required by Article 25, the justice of the peace may order—

(a) that the material be labelled properly as soon as reasonably practicable and at the expense of the feed business operator; and

(b) the release of the material into the custody of the operator.

Marginal Citations

M5 OJ No L 268, 18.10.2003, p 1, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 298/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No L 97, 9.4.2008, p 64).

Offences relating to the exercise of powers E+W

32.—(1) A person who wilfully obstructs an authorised officer in the exercise of the officer's powers under these Regulations or fails to comply with a requirement lawfully made in the exercise of such powers commits an offence.

(2) A person not being an authorised officer who purports to act as such under these Regulations commits an offence.

(3) A person who discloses to any other person—

(a) any information in relation to any manufacturing process or trade secret which has been obtained on premises entered by virtue of these Regulations, or

(b) any other information obtained in pursuance of these Regulations,

commits an offence unless the disclosure was made in and for the purpose of the performance of functions under these Regulations.

(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply to prevent an authorised officer who has taken a sample under these Regulations from disclosing—

(a) 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 and the results of any analysis of that sample;

(b) to any person who had that material on their premises, information as to the results of any analysis of that sample; or

(c) any information which it is necessary to disclose in order to prevent the occurrence of a serious risk to human or animal health or to the environment.

Liability for expenditure E+W

33.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) any sums due to the enforcement authority by virtue of [F15 Article 138(4) (action in the case of non-compliance) of Regulation 2017/625] must be paid by the feed business operator to the authority on demand.

F16 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F15 Words in reg. 33(1) substituted (14.12.2019) by The Official Feed and Food Controls (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1482), regs. 1(1), 41(a)

F16 Reg. 33(2) omitted (14.12.2019) by virtue of The Official Feed and Food Controls (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1482), regs. 1(1), 41(b)

Penalties for offences E+W

34.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 5, as read with Table 1 of Schedule 2, or regulation 24(3), 28(5), 29(5) or (6) or 31(2) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or to a fine or both;

(b) on conviction on indictment to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or to a fine or both.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 5, as read with Table 2 of Schedule 2, or regulation 20 or 32(1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or to a fine or both.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 32(3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine.

Defences E+W

35.—(1) Where the commission by a person of an offence under specified feed law is due to the act or default of some other person, that other person commits the offence and may be accused and convicted of the offence whether or not proceedings are taken against the first-mentioned person.

(2) In any proceedings for an offence under specified feed law it shall, subject to paragraph (3), be a defence to prove that—

(a) the commission of the offence was due to a mistake, or to reliance on information supplied to the accused, or to the act or default of another person, or to an accident or some other cause beyond the control of the accused; and

(b) the accused took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of such an offence by the accused or any person under their control.

(3) If in any case the defence provided by paragraph (2) involves the allegation that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another person or to reliance on information supplied by another person, the person accused will not, without leave of the court, be entitled to rely on that defence unless—

(a) at least seven clear days before the hearing; and

(b) where the accused has previously appeared before a court in connection with the alleged offence, within one month of the first such appearance,

the accused has served on the prosecutor a notice giving any information the accused may have to identify or assist in identifying that other person.

(4) In any proceedings in which it alleged that a material has contravened or failed to comply with the requirements of specified feed law it is a defence for the person accused to prove that the material in respect of which the offence was alleged to have been committed—

(a) was feed to which Article 25 of Regulation 183/2005 applies; and

(b) could lawfully be exported in accordance with the requirements of Article 12 (food and feed exported from the EU) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety.

Offences by corporate bodies or Scottish partnerships E+W

36.—(1) Where an offence under specified feed law which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(a) any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate; or

(b) any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity,

the person mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) as well as the body corporate shall be deemed to have committed that offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2) In paragraph (1) “director” (“cyfarwyddwr”) in relation to any body corporate established by or under any enactment for the purpose of carrying on under national ownership any undertaking, being a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of that body corporate.

(3) Where an offence under specified feed law which has been committed by a Scottish partnership is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a partner, that partner as well as the partnership will be deemed to have committed that offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Institution of and time limit for prosecutions E+W

37.—(1) Without prejudice to any enactment relating to the place where proceedings may be taken, proceedings for an offence under specified feed law may be taken in the place where the person accused resides or carries on business.

(2) No prosecution for an offence under these Regulations or Part 2 of the Animal Feed (Composition, Marketing and Use) (Wales) Regulations 2016 M6 may be begun after the expiry of—

(a) three years from the commission of the offence; or

(b) one year from its discovery by the prosecutor,

whichever is the earlier.

Marginal Citations

M6 S.I. 2016/386 (W. 120)

Service of notices E+W

38.—(1) Any notice to be given by an enforcement authority under regulation 8, 9, 10, 24, 29, or 31—

(a) must be in writing and signed by an authorised officer acting on behalf of the enforcement authority;

(b) if purporting to bear the signature (which includes a facsimile of a signature by whatever means reproduced) of a person who is expressed to be an authorised officer, will be deemed, unless the contrary is proven, to have been duly issued by such an authorised officer;

(c) subject to paragraph (2), must be given to the feed business operator or to the person mentioned in regulation 31(2)(a) by—

(i) delivering it to that person;

(ii) by leaving it, or sending it in a prepaid letter addressed to that person at their office;

(iii) in the case of an incorporated company or body, by delivering it to their secretary or clerk at their registered or principal office, or by sending it in a prepaid letter addressed to the secretary or clerk at that office; or

(iv) in the case of any other person by leaving it or sending it in a prepaid letter addressed to that person at their usual or last known residence.

(2) Where it is not practicable after reasonable inquiry to ascertain the name and address of the person on whom the notice should be served, or where the premises in which a feed business is carried on is unoccupied, the notice may be addressed to the “owner” or “occupier” of the premises in which the feed business is carried on, and delivered to some person on those premises, or if there is no person on the premises to whom it can be delivered, the notice or a copy of it may be affixed to some conspicuous part of the premises.

(3) Any notice to be given by an enforcement authority under regulation 30 must—

(a) be in writing and signed by an authorised officer acting on behalf of the enforcement authority;

(b) if purporting to bear the signature (which includes a facsimile of a signature by whatever means reproduced) of a person who is expressed to be an authorised officer, will be deemed, unless the contrary is proven, to have been duly issued by such an authorised officer;

(c) be addressed to the “owner” or “occupier” of the premises and be delivered to some person on those premises, or if there is no person on those premises to whom it can be delivered, the notice or a copy of it must be affixed to some conspicuous part of the premises.

PART 6 E+W Amendments and revocations

Consequential amendments E+W

39.—(1) The Official Feed and Food Controls (Wales) Regulations 2009 M7 are amended in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) In Schedule 2 (definition of relevant feed law)—

(a) omit paragraph (b); and

(b) in paragraph (e), for “the Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement) (Wales) Regulations 2005” substitute “ the Animal Feed (Hygiene, Sampling etc. and Enforcement) (Wales) Regulations 2016 ”.

Marginal Citations

M7 S.I. 2009/3376 (W. 298).

Revocations E+W

40.  The instruments specified in the first column of the Table in Schedule 5 are revoked to the extent specified in the second column.

Vaughan Gething

Deputy Minister for Health, one of the Welsh Ministers