Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order (Northern Ireland) 1999

Veterinary enquiry as to existence of disease

5.—(1) If an inspector, on reasonable grounds, suspects that the disease exists or has at any time existed on any premises he shall, with all practicable speed, conduct any enquiry and take such further steps as may be necessary to establish the correctness of that suspicion.

(2) For the purposes of an enquiry conducted under paragraph (1) an inspector may, without prejudice to the generality of that paragraph or to his powers under Article 4—

(a) examine any animal or carcase on any premises; and

(b) carry out such tests on or take such samples from, any animal or carcase on any premises, as he may consider necessary for the purpose of diagnosis.

(3) The occupier of the premises on which an enquiry is conducted or any other steps taken by an inspector under paragraph (1), the employees of that occupier, and any person who is or has been in possession or charge of any animal or carcase which is or has been on the premises, shall provide such reasonable facilities for, and comply with such reasonable requirements of, the inspector as are necessary for the purposes of any such enquiry or further steps.