The Carcase Classification and Price Reporting (Wales) Regulations 2018

Powers of entry W

18.—(1) An authorised officer may at any reasonable hour and on producing, if so required, a duly authenticated authorisation, enter an approved slaughterhouse and any associated premises in which carcases may be handled or records relating to those carcases may be kept, for the purpose of ascertaining whether—

(a) any offence under these Regulations is being or has been committed on the premises; or

(b) there is on the premises any evidence of any such offence.

(2) The officer may be accompanied by such other persons as the officer considers necessary.

(3) A justice of the peace may by signed warrant permit an authorised officer to enter any premises, if necessary by reasonable force, if satisfied on sworn information in writing that—

(a) there is reasonable ground for entry into the premises for any purpose in paragraph (1); and

(b) any of the following conditions are met—

(i) admission to the premises has been refused, or a refusal is anticipated and (in either case) notice of intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the operator;

(ii) asking for admission, or the giving of such notice, would defeat the object of the entry;

(iii) the case is one of urgency; or

(iv) the premises are unoccupied, or the operator is temporarily absent.

(4) A warrant granted under this regulation continues in force for three months.

(5) An officer who enters any unoccupied premises, or premises from which the operator is temporarily absent, must leave them as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as they were before entry.