The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

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 a notice in writing on the person appearing to him to have charge of the consignment which includes the product.

(3) A notice under paragraph (2) may require the person on whom it was served to ensure that the consignment or part thereof to which the notice relates be stored until service of a further notice in writing under that paragraph requiring that the same be removed, under the supervision of an official veterinary surgeon or authorised officer, as the case may be, to such place and under such conditions as the notice may direct.

(4) The costs of storage required under paragraph (3) shall be paid by the person responsible for the consignment.

(5) 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 2.