Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Powers of entry and inspection

8.—(1) An official veterinary surgeon, or authorised officer may –

(a) enter any border inspection post or other land or premises (except premises used only as a dwelling house) and inspect the same and anything therein or thereon;

(b) open any bundle, package, packing case, or item of personal luggage, or require any person in possession of or accompanying the same to open it;

(c) inspect the contents of any bundle, package, packing case or item of personal luggage opened pursuant to sub-paragraph (b);

(d) inspect any product, including its packaging, seals, marking, labelling and presentation, and any plant or equipment used for or in connection with any product; and

(e) take samples of any product.

(2) Where an official veterinary surgeon or authorised officer takes a sample of a product otherwise than in the course of a physical check carried out pursuant to regulation 19(1), he may serve notice on the person appearing to him to have charge of the consignment which includes the product, requiring that the consignment or part thereof be stored until he serves a further notice that the same may be removed, under the supervision of the official veterinary surgeon, or authorised officer, as the case may be, at such place and under such conditions as he may in the notice direct; and the costs of such storage shall be paid by the person responsible for the consignment.

(3) An official veterinary surgeon or authorised officer entering any land or premises pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) may take with him –

(a) other persons acting under his instructions;

(b) one or more representatives of the European Commission; and

(c) one or more representatives of the authorities of a third country, appointed and acting in accordance with the provisions of one of the equivalence decisions listed in Schedule 4.