Powers of authorised persons6

1

An authorised person may exercise any of the powers specified in this regulation for the purpose of enforcing Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009, or these Regulations.

2

A person so authorised, on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing authority to do so, at all reasonable hours may enter any land, other than a building used only as a dwelling.

3

An authorised person may—

a

inspect the premises and any livestock, crops, machinery or equipment;

b

carry out any inquiries, checks, examinations, measurements and tests;

c

take samples;

d

mark any animal or other thing for identification purposes;

e

have access to, inspect and copy any documents or records (in whatever form they are held) or remove such documents or records to enable them to be copied;

f

have access to, inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the documents or records; and for this purpose require any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material to afford such assistance as is reasonably required and, where a document or record is kept by means of a computer, require the document or record to be produced in a form in which it can be taken away;

g

remove a carcase found on the land for the purpose of carrying out a post-mortem examination on it;

h

take a photograph of anything on the land; and

i

remove anything reasonably believed to be evidence of any non-compliance.

4

An authorised person entering any premises by virtue of this regulation may be accompanied by—

a

such other persons as are necessary; and

b

any representative of the European Union acting for the purposes of the Community Regulations enforced by these Regulations.

5

An authorised person who enters any unoccupied premises must leave them as effectively secured as they were before entry.

6

An authorised person who enters any land under a power under other legislation may exercise any of the powers specified in this regulation for the purposes of enforcing these Regulations.