Amendment of the principal Regulations
8. In regulation 15 (powers of veterinary inspector) of the principal Regulations–
(a)there is substituted for paragraph (1)–
“(1) A veterinary inspector shall have the powers set out in this regulation.”;
(b)in paragraph (2) the words “ascertaining whether there is or has been on the premises any contravention of” are omitted; and
(c)after paragraph (4) there is inserted–
“(4A) Subject to paragraph (4B) below, a veterinary inspector shall have power to undertake from time to time investigations to establish the incidence in Scotland or any part of Scotland of any disease listed in Schedule 1 or any agent associated with such disease and for that purpose may undertake such inspections and take such samples as may be necessary.
(4B) A veterinary inspector may undertake an investigation mentioned in paragraph (4A) only with the consent of the Scottish Ministers and subject to such directions (which may be general or specific) as they may consider appropriate.”.