Agriculture Act 1970

76 Inspector’s power to enter premises and take samples. U.K.

(1) An inspector may at all reasonable times enter—

(a) any premises on which he has reasonable cause to believe that there is any fertiliser or feeding stuff which is kept there for the purpose of being sold in the course of trade and is ready for sale;

(b) any premises (not being premises used only as a dwelling) on which he has reasonable cause to believe that there is any fertiliser or feeding stuff which the occupier of the premises has purchased;

and the inspector may take a sample in the prescribed manner on those premises of any material on the premises (including any material in a vehicle) which he has reasonable cause to believe to be such a fertiliser or feeding stuff as aforesaid.

(2) An inspector may require a person who has purchased any fertiliser or feeding stuff—

(a) to tell him the name and address of the seller; and

(b) to produce, and allow him to take copies of—

(i) any statutory statement received from the seller;

(ii) where the fertiliser or feeding stuff was described or marked as mentioned in section 70(1) or 71(1) of this Act, the document or mark in question;

and any person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with such a requirement shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1 level 3 on the standard scale].

(3) An inspector entering any premises by virtue of this section may take with him such other persons and such equipment as may appear to him to be necessary.

(4) Without prejudice to his powers and duties as to the taking of samples in the prescribed manner, an inspector may for the purposes of this Part of this Act take a sample in a manner other than that prescribed of any material which has been sold for use as a fertiliser or feeding stuff or which he has reasonable cause to believe to be intended for sale as such.

(5) Where for the purpose of taking a sample of any material an inspector takes some of it from each of one or more parcels of the material which are exposed for sale by retail and none of which weighs more than fourteen pounds or the prescribed metric substitution the owner of the parcel or parcels may require the inspector to purchase the parcel or parcels on behalf of the authority for whom he acts [F2 or Food Standards Scotland (as the case may be)].

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1 S. 76: for previous exercises of power see Index to Government Orders

P2 S. 76(1): s. 74A (with ss. 66(1), 67(5), 75(1), 76(1), 77, 78(2)(4)(6), 79(1)(2)(9) and 84) power exercised by S.I.1991/973

P3 S. 76(1): S. 74A (with ss. 66(1), 75(1), 76(1), 77, 78(2), (4) and (6), 79(1), (2) and (9), 84 and 86(1), (2), (3) and (9)) power exercised by S.R. 1991/540

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46, (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6

F2 Words in s. 76(5) inserted (S.) (1.4.2021) by The Feed (Transfer of Functions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/467), regs. 1(2), 2(6)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 76 modified (8.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2325, regs. 7(1)(2), 10 (as amended: (E.) (29.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2481, reg. 29(d); (W.) (1.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/343, reg. 27(d); (E.) (20.3.3001) by S.I. 2001/541, reg. 7(b); (W.) (1.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2253, reg. 7(b); (E.) (3.11.2001) by S.I. 2001/3389, reg. 23(c); (W.) (3.11.2001) by S.I. 2001/3461, reg. 17(c); (S.) (1.7.2002) by S.S.I. 2002/285, reg. 13(c))

C2 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325, reg. 10 (W.) (1.5.2003) by The Feeding Stuffs (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/989), regs. 1(1), 7

C3 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325, reg. 10 (E.) (9.6.2003) by Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis), the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) and the Feeding Stuffs (Establishments and Intermediaries) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1296), regs. 1, 11

C4 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325 reg. 10 (S.) (26.6.2003) by The Feeding Stuffs (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 (S.S.I. 2003/277), regs. 1(1), 12

C5 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325, reg. 10 (W.) (14.7.2003) by Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis), the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) and the Feeding Stuffs (Establishments and Intermediaries) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1677), regs. 1, 11

C6 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325, reg. 10 (W.) (1.8.2003) by The Feeding Stuffs, the Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) and the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1850), regs. 1(2), 20

C7 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325, reg. 10 (E.) (1.8.2003) by Feeding Stuffs, the Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) and the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1503), regs. 1(2), 20

C8 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325, reg. 10 (W.) (3.12.2003) by Feeding Stuffs, the Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) and the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) (Amendment) (Wales) (No.2) Regulatons 2003 (S.I. 2003/3119), regs. 1(2), 11

C9 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325, reg. 10 (E.) (8.12.2003) by Feeding Stuffs, the Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) and the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) (Amendment) (England) (No.2) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2912), regs. 1, 11

C10 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325, reg. 10 (E.) (1.6.2004) by Feeding Stuffs, the Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) and the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1301), regs. 1, 11

C11 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325, reg. 10 (W.) (9.7.2004) by The Feeding Stuffs, the Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) and the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1749), regs. 1, 11

C12 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (E.) (4.10.2004) by Genetically Modified Animal Feed (England) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2334), regs. 1(b), 6(2)(a)

C13 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (8.10.2004) by The Genetically Modified Animal Feed Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (S.R. 2004/386), regs. 1, 6

C14 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.R. 2004/386, reg. 6 (N.I.) (11.10.2010) by The Feed (Sampling and Analysis and Specified Undesirable Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/323), regs. 1, 21(2)

C15 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (S.) (15.11.2004) by Genetically Modified Animal Feed (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/433), regs. 1(1), 6(1)(b)

C16 S. 76: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1999/2325, reg. 10 (W.) (24.11.2004) by The Feeding Stuffs, the Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) and the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) (Amendment) (Wales) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3091), regs. 1, 5(4)

C17 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (W.) (17.12.2004) by The Genetically Modified Animal Feed (Wales) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3221), regs. 1(b), 6(2)(a)

C18 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (1.1.2005) by The Feeding Stuffs (Safety Requirements for Feed for Food-Producing Animals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (S.R. 2004/506), regs. 1(1), 4(1), 4(2)

C19 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.1.2005) by Feeding Stuffs (Safety Requirements for Feed for Food-Producing Animals) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3254), regs. 1, 4(2)(b)

C20 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (E.) (30.4.2005) by Feed (Corn Gluten Feed and Brewers Grains) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1265), regs. 1(1), 5

C21 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (S.) (6.5.2005) by Feed (Corn Gluten Feed and Brewers Grains) (Emergency Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (S.S.I. 2005/246), regs. 1(1), 5

C22 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (W.) (13.5.2005) by The Feed (Corn Gluten Feed and Brewers Grains) (Emergency Control) (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1323), regs. 1(1), 5(1), 5(2)(a)

C23 S. 76 modified (E.) (11.10.2010) by The Feed (Sampling and Analysis and Specified Undesirable Substances) (England) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2280), regs. 1, 17

C24 S. 76 modified (N.I.) (11.10.2010) by The Feed (Sampling and Analysis and Specified Undesirable Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/323), regs. 1, 16

C25 S. 76 modified (W.) (11.10.2010) by The Feed (Sampling and Analysis and Specified Undesirable Substances) (Wales) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2287), regs. 1, 17

C26 S. 76 modified (S.) (15.11.2010) by The Feed (Sampling and Analysis and Specified Undesirable Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/354), regs. 1, 17

C27 S. 76(1): transfer of functions (15.2.2006) by Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/304), art. 1(1), Sch. (with art. 5)

C28 S. 76(5) modified: (N.I.) by S.R. 1978/240, reg. 7(b) (which S.R. was revoked (N.I.) by S.R. 1992/270, reg. 24); (N.I.) by S.R. 1982/338, reg. 8(c) (which S.R. was revoked (2.8.1999) (N.I.) by 1999/296, reg. 9); (E.W.S.) by S.I. 1982/1144, reg. 9(c) (which S.I. was revoked (E.W.S.) (6.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1663, reg. 10); (N.I.) by S.R. 1990/286, reg. 12(c) (which S.R. was revoked (N.I.) (18.5.1992) by S.R. 1992/187, reg. 9 (with reg. 1(2))); (E.W.S.) by S.I 1990/887, reg. 12(c) (which S.I. was revoked (E.W.S.) (1.11.1991) by 1991/2197, reg. 13 (with reg. 1(2))); (N.I.) (17.2.1992) by S.R. 1991/540, reg. 7; (E.W.S.) (20.5.1991) by S.I. 1991/973, reg. 8(b) (which S.I. was revoked (E.W.S.) (21.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/1342, reg. 9; (E.W.S.) (1.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/2197, reg. 12; (N.I.) (18.5.1992) by S.R. 1992/187, reg. 12(c) (with reg. 1(2)) (which modification was continued (N.I.) (2.8.1999) by S.R. 1999/296, reg. 8(c)); (E.W.S.) (21.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/1342, reg. 8(b) (which modification was continued (E.W.S.) (6.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1663, reg. 9(c)

C29 S. 76(5): transfer of functions (15.2.2006) by Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/304), art. 1(1), Sch. (with art. 5)

C30 S. 76(5) modified (N.I.) (11.10.2010) by The Feed (Sampling and Analysis and Specified Undesirable Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/323), regs. 1, 3(b)

C31 S. 76(5) modified (E.) (11.10.2010) by The Feed (Sampling and Analysis and Specified Undesirable Substances) (England) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2280), regs. 1, 3(b)

C32 S. 76(5) modified (S.) (15.11.2010) by The Feed (Sampling and Analysis and Specified Undesirable Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/354), regs. 1, 3(b)