The Alcoholometers and Alcohol Hydrometers (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1977

Powers of inspection and entry

13.—(1) Subject to the production if so requested of his authority, an inspector may, at all reasonable times—

(a) inspect and test any instrument;

(b) enter any premises at which he has reasonable cause to believe there to be any instrument, not being premises used only as a private dwelling house.

(2) Subject to the production if so requested of his authority, an inspector may at any time seize and detain any article which he has reasonable cause to believe is liable to be forfeited under these Regulations.

(3) If a justice of the peace, by information on oath—

(a) is satisfied that there is reasonable ground to believe that any such instrument or article as is mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2) above is on any premises, or that any offence under these Regulations has been, is being or is about to be committed on any premises; and

(b) is also satisfied either—

(i) that admission to the premises has been refused, or a refusal is apprehended, and that notice of the intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the occupier; or

(ii) that an application for admission, or the giving of such a notice, would defeat the object of the entry, or that the case is one of urgency, or that the premises are unoccupied or the occupier temporarily absent;

the justice may by warrant under his hand, which shall continue in force for a period of one month, authorise and inspector to enter the premises, if need be by force. In the application of this paragraph to Scotland, the expression “a justice of the peace” shall be construed as including the sheriff.

(4) An inspector entering any premises by virtue of this Regulation may take with him such other persons and such equipment as may appear to him necessary; and on leaving any premises which he has entered by virtue of a warrant under paragraph (3) above, being premises which are unoccupied or the occupier of which is temporarily absent, he shall leave them as effectively secured against trespassers as he found them.

(5) If any inspector or other person who enters any work-place by virtue of this Regulation discloses to any person any information obtained by him in the work-place with regard to any manufacturing process or trade secret, he shall, unless the disclosure was made in the performance of his duty, be guilty of an offence.