The Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1987

Examination, sampling and marking

17.—(1) Subject to article 20, an inspector may, on production if so required of his authority—

(a) at all reasonable times for the purpose of ascertaining whether any plant pest of a description specified in Part I or column 2 of Part II of Schedule 1, or which is mentioned in column 3 of Schedule 3 or in Schedule 8, or a plant pest which is not normally present in Great Britain and which is injurious to plants in Great Britain, exists on any premises, or for any other purpose of this Order, enter any premises and examine and mark any part of the premises or any objects on the premises and examine, take samples of and mark any plant pests, genetically manipulated material, plants, plant products, soil or growing medium and any container or other package which has been or may have been in contact therewith;

(b) for the purposes of the examinations referred to in paragraph (a) of this article, open or authorise any person to open on his behalf or require the importer or any person in charge of any such container or other package to open, in such manner as the inspector may specify, that container or other package;

(c) if and insofar as is necessary for the purposes of the examinations referred to in paragraph (1)(a) of this article, prohibit entirely, or to such extent as he may indicate, the movement of any plant pests, genetically manipulated material, plants, plant products, soil, growing medium, container, or other package or of any material or object by means of which in his opinion a plant pest may spread.

(2) An inspector entering any premises under paragraph (1) of this article may take with him such persons, equipment and vehicles as are necessary for the purpose of facilitating the exercise of his powers under that paragraph.