Powers of entry and inspectionS
8.—(1) An official veterinary surgeon, official fish inspector or authorised officer may–
(a)enter any border inspection post within Scotland 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, official fish inspector 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), that veterinary surgeon, inspector or officer may serve notice on the person appearing to that veterinary surgeon, inspector or officer to have charge of the consignment which includes the product, requiring that the consignment or part thereof be stored until that veterinary surgeon, inspector or officer serves a further notice that the same may be removed, under the supervision of the veterinary surgeon, inspector or officer, as the case may be, at such place and under such conditions as may be directed in the notice; and the costs of such storage shall be paid by the recipient of the notice or the person responsible for the consignment.
(3) An official veterinary surgeon, official fish inspector or authorised officer entering any land or premises pursuant to sub-paragraph (1)(a) may be accompanied by–
(a)other persons acting under the instructions of that veterinary surgeon, inspector or officer;
(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.