The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Offences and Penalties

15.—(1) Any person who —

(a) contravenes regulation 3(1), 4(1), 5(1), 12(1) or 13(2) to (5);

(b) intentionally obstructs any person acting in the execution of Regulation 1895/2005 or these Regulations;

(c) contravenes regulation 13(6) or, without reasonable excuse, fails to give to any person acting in the execution of Regulation 1895/2005 or these Regulations any assistance or information which that person may reasonably require; or

(d) in purported compliance with any requirement mentioned in sub-paragraph (c), knowingly or recklessly supplies information that is false or misleading in any material particular,

is guilty of an offence.

(2) Anyone convicted of an offence under these Regulations is liable —

(a) in the case of an offence under paragraph (1)(a) —

(i) on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or both;

(ii) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both;

(b) in the case of any other offence under these Regulations to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level five on the standard scale or both.

(3) Nothing in paragraph (1)(c) is to be construed as requiring any person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate him.

(4) No prosecution for an offence under these Regulations shall be begun after the expiry of three years from the commission of the offence or one year from its discovery by the prosecutor, whichever is the earlier.

(5) Where the commission by any person of an offence under these Regulations is due to the act or default of some other person, that other person shall also be guilty of the offence; and a person may be charged with and convicted of the offence whether or not proceedings are taken against the first mentioned person.