Implementation of Article 64 of Regulation 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council: concurrent powers and power of direction3.
(1)
The Secretary of State may do anything that the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of implementing Article 64 of the Official Controls Regulation, in connection with the construction of facilities for the purpose of performing official controls.
(2)
The reference in paragraph (1) to performing official controls is a reference to the competent authority performing official controls.
(3)
The Secretary of State may direct the competent authority to recruit and employ a sufficient number of suitably qualified staff to implement Article 64 of the Official Controls Regulation.
(4)
The competent authority must comply with a direction under paragraph (3) irrespective of whether any matter has been brought to the attention of, or discussed and agreed by, the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly.