12.—(1) Where animals are consigned to a collection centre approved by the Minister for the purposes of intra-Community trade, the operator of the collection centre shall ensure that no animal is admitted unless it complies with Article 3.1 of Council Directive 90/425/EEC.
(2) Where animals are consigned to a slaughterhouse under the supervision of an official veterinary surgeon appointed under the provisions of the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulation 1995(1) or the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995(2), the official veterinary surgeon shall ensure that no animal is slaughtered unless it complies with Article 3.1 of Council Directive 90/425/EEC.
(3) If, in carrying out inspections under the preceding paragraph, the official veterinary surgeon establishes that animals imported from another member State are accompanied by incorrect certification or cannot readily be identified, he shall forthwith notify a veterinary inspector authorised by the Minister to receive such notification, who shall examine the animals and shall either—
(a)certify that they are fit to be slaughtered and used for their intended purpose, or
(b)by notice in writing served on the official veterinary surgeon require the animals to be slaughtered and destroyed or re-exported, in each case at the expense of the importer.
(4) Where paragraphs (1) and (2) above do not apply, any person who markets any animal consigned to him from another member State, or divides up batches of such animals for distribution or marketing—
(a)shall check, before the batch is divided up or marketed, that all the animals comply with the relevant provisions of the directives listed in Schedule 3, with respect to identification marks and accompanying documentation;
(b)shall forthwith notify any irregularity or anomaly to a veterinary inspector authorised by the Minister to receive such notification, and
(c)if there is a breach of Article 3.1.d of Council Directive 90/425/EEC, shall isolate the animals in question until a veterinary inspector authorised by the Minister to do so has authorised their release in writing.