The Importation of Animals Order 1977

Powers of local authorities, veterinary inspectors, etc., in case of default

18.—(1) If—

(a) the master of a vessel, the operator of an aircraft or the person in charge of a vehicle or container fails to comply with any of the requirements of Article 6(2) above, or of a direction given thereunder, with regard to the cleansing and disinfection of that vessel, aircraft, vehicle or container, or of any apparatus, equipment or thing used in connection with the carriage of animals therein or the unloading of animals therefrom, or

(b) the person in charge of approved premises fails to comply with any requirement of a notice served under Article 10(7) above with regard to the cleansing and disinfection of those premises or any part thereof, or of any apparatus, equipment or thing used in connection with or for or about animals detained at those premises, the local authority or a veterinary inspector or other person acting for or on behalf of the appropriate Minister may, without prejudice to any proceedings for an offence arising out of such default, enter that vessel, aircraft, vehicle or container, or those approved premises, and carry out, or cause to be carried out, such cleansing and disinfection; and in exercising the powers conferred by the foregoing provisions of this paragraph in relation to any vessel, aircraft, vehicle or container, or in relation to any apparatus, equipment or thing therein, a local authority or a veterinary inspector or other person acting for or on behalf of the appropriate Minister may enter any land or premises.

(2) If any person who is required to dispose of, or arrange for the disposal of, waste material from a vessel, aircraft, vehicle or container in accordance with any direction given under Article 6(3) or Article 8(2)(c) above fails to comply with any of the requirements of that direction, a veterinary inspector or other person acting for or on behalf of the appropriate Minister may, without prejudice to any proceedings for an offence arising out of such default, enter that vessel, aircraft, vehicle or container, and seize that waste material, or cause it to be seized, and dispose of it in accordance with that direction; and in exercising the powers conferred by the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, a veterinary inspector or other person acting for or on behalf of the appropriate Minister may enter any land or premises.

(3) If any person on whom a notice is served under any of Articles 12(1), 14(1) or (2), 16(2) or 17(3), (4) or (5) above fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof—

(a) an inspector of a local authority or a veterinary inspector or other person acting for or on behalf of the appropriate Minister, in the case of a notice under Article 14(1) or Article 16(2), and

(b) a veterinary inspector or other person acting for or on behalf of the appropriate Minister, in any other case,

shall have power to enter any land or premises, or any vessel, aircraft, vehicle or container, and seize any animal to which the notice relates, or cause it to be seized, and arrange for the requirements of the notice to be complied with; and the person on whom the notice was served, and the owner of any such animal and any person having charge thereof, shall render all reasonable assistance to an inspector of a local authority, a veterinary inspector or other person, so as to enable the powers conferred by the foregoing provisions of this paragraph to be properly exercised.