TITLE VIIENFORCEMENT ACTION
CHAPTER IActions by the competent authorities and penalties
Article 137General obligations of the competent authorities as regards enforcement action
1
When acting in accordance with this Chapter, the competent authorities shall give priority to action to be taken to eliminate or contain risks to human, animal and plant health, animal welfare or, as regards GMOs and plant protection products, also to the environment.
2
In case of suspicion of non-compliance, the competent authorities shall perform an investigation in order to confirm or to eliminate that suspicion.
3
Where necessary, actions taken in accordance with paragraph 2 shall include:
a
the performance of intensified official controls on animals, goods and operators for an appropriate period;
b
the official detention of animals and goods and of any unauthorised substances or products as appropriate.
Article 138Actions in the event of established non-compliance
1
Where the non-compliance is established, the competent authorities shall take:
a
any action necessary to determine the origin and extent of the non-compliance and to establish the operator’s responsibilities; and
b
appropriate measures to ensure that the operator concerned remedies the non-compliance and prevents further occurrences of such non-compliance.
When deciding which measures to take, the competent authorities shall take account of the nature of that non-compliance and the operator’s past record with regard to compliance.
2
When acting in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, competent authorities shall take any measure they deem appropriate to ensure compliance with the rules referred to in Article 1(2), including, but not limited, to the following:
a
order or perform treatments on animals;
b
order the unloading, transfer to another means of transport, holding and care of animals, quarantine periods, the postponement of the slaughter of animals, and, if necessary, order that veterinary assistance be sought;
c
order treatments on goods, the alteration of labels or corrective information to be provided to consumers;
d
e
order the operator to increase the frequency of own controls;
f
order certain activities of the operator concerned to be subject to increased or systematic official controls;
g
order the recall, withdrawal, removal and destruction of goods, authorising, where appropriate, the use of the goods for purposes other than those for which they were originally intended;
h
order the isolation or closure, for an appropriate period of time, of all or part of the business of the operator concerned, or its establishments, holdings or other premises;
i
order the cessation for an appropriate period of time of all or part of the activities of the operator concerned and, where relevant, of the internet sites it operates or employs;
j
order the suspension or withdrawal of the registration or approval of the establishment, plant, holding or means of transport concerned, of the authorisation of a transporter or of the certificate of competence of the driver;
k
order the slaughter or killing of animals provided that this is the most appropriate measure to safeguard human health as well as animal health and welfare.
3
The competent authorities shall provide the operator concerned, or its representative, with:
a
written notification of their decision concerning the action or measure to be taken in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2, together with the reasons for that decision; and
b
information on any right of appeal against such decisions and on the applicable procedure and time limits with respect to such right of appeal.
4
All expenditure incurred under this Article shall be borne by the responsible operators.
5
The competent authorities, in the case of issuance of false or misleading official certificates or in the case of abuse of official certificates, shall take appropriate measures, including:
a
the temporary suspension of the certifying officer from its duties;
b
the withdrawal of the authorisation to sign official certificates;
c
any other measure to prevent a reoccurrence of the offences referred to in Article 89(2).
Article 139Penalties
1
F3The F19appropriate authorityF18may, by regulations, lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation F10or of any EU tertiary legislation, or regulations, made under this Regulation and take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. F17...
F152
The appropriate authority shall ensure that financial penalties for violations of this Regulation and of the rules referred to in Article 1(2), perpetrated through fraudulent or deceptive practices, reflect F4... at least either the economic advantage for the operator or, as appropriate, a percentage of the operator's turnover.
F113
Regulations under this Article may create offences.
4
Regulations may provide for an offence under the regulations to be triable—
a)
summarily, or
b)
either summarily or on indictment.
5
Regulations may provide for an offence under the regulations that is triable either way to be punishable—
a)
on summary conviction in England and Wales, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine (or both);
b)
on summary conviction in Scotland, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);
c)
on conviction on indictment, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine (or both).
6
Regulations may provide for a summary offence under the regulations to be punishable—
a)
in England and Wales, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine (or both);
b)
in Scotland, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (or both).
Article 140Reporting of infringements
1
F12The appropriate authority shall ensure that competent authorities have effective mechanisms to enable reporting of actual or potential infringements of this Regulation.
2
The mechanisms referred to in paragraph 1 shall include at least:
a
procedures for the receipt of reports of infringements and their follow-up;
b
appropriate protection for persons reporting an infringement against retaliation, discrimination or other types of unfair treatment; and
c
protection of personal data of the person reporting an infringement in accordance with F7legislation in force in the relevant constituent territory of Great Britain.
CHAPTER IIF1... enforcement measures
Article 141Serious disruption in a F13control system in the British Islands
1
Where the F20appropriate authority has evidence of a serious disruption in F5a control system of any of the constituent territories of the British Islands and such disruption may constitute a widespread risk to human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or, as regards GMOs and plant protection products, also to the environment, or result in a widespread infringement of the rules referred to in Article 1(2), F9the appropriate authority must make regulations adopting one or more of the following measures, to be applied until such disruption is eliminated:
a
the prohibition to make available on the market or to transport, move or otherwise handle certain animals or goods concerned by the disruption in the control system;
b
special conditions for the activities, animals or goods referred to in point (a);
c
the suspension of the operation of official controls in border control posts or other control points concerned by the disruption in the official control system or the withdrawal of such border control posts or other control points;
d
other appropriate temporary measures necessary to contain that risk until the disruption in the control system is eliminated.
F6...
F162
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F83
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Word in Title 7 Ch. 2 title omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 26(1) (with reg. 46)