Consumer Protection Act 1987

29 Powers of search etc. U.K.

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Part, a duly authorised officer of an enforcement authority may at any reasonable hour and on production, if required, of his credentials exercise [F1 the power conferred by subsection (4)].

F2 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) If the officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting that any goods are manufactured or imported goods which have not been supplied in the United Kingdom since they were manufactured or imported he may—

(a) for the purpose of ascertaining whether there has been any contravention of any safety provision in relation to the goods, require any person carrying on a business, or employed in connection with a business, to produce any records relating to the business;

(b) for the purpose of ascertaining (by testing or otherwise) whether there has been any such contravention, seize and detain the goods;

(c) take copies of, or of any entry in, any records produced by virtue of paragraph (a) above.

F4 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) If and to the extent that it is reasonably necessary to do so to prevent a contravention of any safety provision F6 ... , the officer may, for the purpose of exercising his power under subsection (4) F7 ... above to seize any goods F8 ... —

(a) require any person having authority to do so to open any container or to open any vending machine; and

(b) himself open or break open any such container or machine where a requirement made under paragraph (a) above in relation to the container or machine has not been complied with.

[F9 (8) The officer may not exercise a power under this section to secure the disclosure by a telecommunications operator or postal operator of communications data without the consent of the operator.

(9) In subsection (8) “communications data”, “postal operator” and “telecommunications operator” have the same meanings as in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (see sections 261 and 262 of that Act).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 29(1) substituted (1.10.2015) by Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 40(2); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F2 S. 29(2) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 40(3); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F3 S. 29(3) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 40(3); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F4 S. 29(5) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 40(3); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F5 S. 29(6) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 40(3); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F6 Words in s. 29(7) repealed (26.5.2008) by The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1277), reg. 30(3), Sch. 4 Pt. 1 (with reg. 28(2)(3), Sch. 3 para. 6)

F7 Words in s. 29(7) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 40(4)(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F8 Words in s. 29(7) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 40(4)(b); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F9 S. 29(8)(9) inserted (22.7.2020) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), s. 272(1), Sch. 2 para. 3 (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2020/766, reg. 2(d)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (1.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3073, reg. 28, Sch. 6 para. 3(c)

S. 29 applied (with modifications) (1.7.1997) by S.I. 1997/831, reg. 19(1)-(4), Sch. 15 para. 2(b) (with Sch. 15 para. 7)

Ss. 28-35 applied (with modifications) (31.5.1998) by S.I. 1998/1165, reg. 13(2)(a) (which said S.I. was revoked (25.8.2003) by S.I. 2003/1941, reg. 1(2))

Ss. 28-35 applied (with modifications) (26.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/1053, reg. 16(3)(a)

Ss. 28-35 applied (with modifications) (29.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/2001, reg. 24, Sch. 8 para. 2(c)

Ss. 28-35 applied (with modifications) (8.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/730, reg. 18(1), Sch. 9 para. 1(2)

Ss. 28-35 applied (with modifications) (15.5.2002) by S.I. 2002/1144, regs. 2(2), 16(1)-(3), Sch. 10 paras. 1, 3

Ss. 28-35 applied (with modifications) (25.8.2003) by S.I. 2003/1941, reg. 8, Sch. IV para. 2(a)

C2 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (17.8.2015) by The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1553), reg. 1, Sch. 7 paras. 1(g), 2

C3 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (8.12.2016) by The Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1092), reg. 1, Sch. 5 paras. 1(g), 2 (with reg. 3)

C4 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (8.12.2016) by The Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1105), reg. 1, Sch. 7 paras. 1(g), 2 (with reg. 88)

C5 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (8.12.2016) by The Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1091), reg. 1, Sch. 7 paras. 1, 2 (with regs. 74, 75(5))

C6 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (8.12.2016) by The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1101), reg. 1, Sch. 3 paras. 1, 2 (with reg. 3)

C7 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (8.12.2016) by The Lifts Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1093), reg. 1, Sch. 7 paras. 1(f), 2 (with regs. 3-5)

C8 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (3.8.2017) by The Recreational Craft Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/737), reg. 1, Sch. 13 paras. 1(g), 2 (with reg. 89)

C9 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (26.12.2017) by The Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1206), reg. 1, Sch. 10 paras. 1, 2 (with regs. 3-5, 77)

C10 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (21.4.2018) by The Gas Appliances (Enforcement) and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/389), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 (with reg. 2)

C11 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (21.4.2018) by The Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/390), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 (with reg. 2(1)-(3))

C12 S. 29 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (16.7.2021) by The Market Surveillance (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/858), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 paras. 1, 2 (with reg. 3)

C13 S. 29(1)-(5)(6)(a)(7) applied in part (E.W.S) (28.11.2003 for certain purposes, 15.7.2004 for certain further purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Fireworks Act 2003 (c. 22), ss. 12(2)(b), 18 (with s. 2(8)); S.I. 2003/3084, art. 2, Sch.; S.I. 2004/1831, art. 2, Sch.

C14 S. 29(4)(5)(6): powers of seizure extended (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 50, 52-55, 68, 138(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 45; S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(j)