The Food (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Disposal of samples taken for analysis

40.—(1) A sampling officer who procures a sample of any food or substance for the purpose of analysis by a public analyst shall forthwith divide it into three parts, each part to be marked and sealed or fastened up in such manner as its nature will permit, and shall deal with the parts in accordance with the following provisions of this Article.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Article, the sampling officer shall dispose of one part of the sample as follows, that is to say—

(a) where the sample was purchased by the sampling officer, he shall give the part to the vendor;

(b) where the sample was of goods consigned from outside Northern Ireland and was taken by the sampling officer before delivery to the consignee, he shall give the part to the consignee;

(c) where the sample was taken by the sampling officer with the consent of a purchaser by retail, not being a sample taken as mentioned in sub-paragraph (b), he shall give the part to the vendor;

(d) where the sample was of milk taken by the sampling officer otherwise than as mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c), he shall give the part to the person who caused the milk to be placed in the container from which the sample was taken;

(e) where the sample was taken in transit by the sampling officer, otherwise than as mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d), he shall give the part to the consignor;

(f) where sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) do not apply, the sampling officer shall give the part to the person appearing to be the owner of the food or substance;

and the sampling officer shall inform the person to whom the part is given that the sample was purchased or taken for the purpose of analysis by a public analyst.

(3) Of the remaining parts of the sample, the sampling officer shall, unless he decides not to have an analysis made, submit one for analysis in accordance with Article 39, and retain the other for future comparison.

(4) If it appears to a sampling officer that any food or substance of which he has procured a sample for the purpose of analysis by a public analyst was manufactured or put into its wrapper or container by a person (not being a person to whom one part of the sample is required to be given under this Article) having his name and an address in the United Kingdom displayed on the wrapper or container, the officer shall, unless he decides not to have an analysis made, within three days of procuring the sample send to that person a notice informing him—

(a) that the sample has been procured by the officer; and

(b) where the sample was taken or, as the case may be, from whom it was purchased.

(5) In relation to a sample purchased from an automatic machine, paragraph (2)(a) shall have effect as if for the reference to the vendor there were substituted a reference—

(a) if the name and address (being an address in Northern Ireland) of a person stated to be the proprietor of the machine appears on that machine, to that person;

(b) in any other case, to the occupier of the premises on which the machine stands or to which it is affixed.

(6) Any part of a sample which under this Article is to be given to any person may be given either by delivering it to him or to his agent or by sending it to him by post in a registered packet or by the recorded delivery service.

(7) The provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5) and (6) shall apply to the purchase of samples by any person who is neither a sampling officer nor a person having the powers of a sampling officer as they apply in relation to the purchase of samples by a sampling officer; and references to a sampling officer shall be construed accordingly.