Authorisation of plant inspection assistants
11.—(1) The Minister may, in relation to any licensed premises, authorise persons employed at those premises to act as plant inspection assistants in relation to the function specified in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 9.
(2) No person shall act as a plant inspection assistant unless—
(a)that person is authorised under paragraph (1) above; and
(b)that person is supervised by an official veterinary surgeon.
(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5) below, the Minister may at any time revoke or suspend the authorisation of any person as a plant inspection assistant if it appears to the Minister, on the basis of a report by a veterinary officer or an official veterinary surgeon, that—
(a)such person is unfit to perform the function specified in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 9 or has failed to perform such function in accordance with these Regulations;
(b)such person ceases to be employed at the premises in relation to which he was authorised to act.
(4) Where the Minister revokes or suspends an authorisation granted under paragraph (1) above the Minister shall, as soon as possible, give to the person whose authorisation has been revoked or suspended notice in writing of the reasons for such revocation or suspension and shall afford him an opportunity of making representations in writing to the Minister with regard to the revocation or suspension or of being heard by a person appointed for the purpose by the Minister.
(5) A notice given under paragraph (4) above shall inform the person to whom it is given of his right to make representations in writing, of the manner in which and the time (not being less than 21 days from the giving of the notice) within which such representations may be made and of his right to be heard and of the manner in which and the time (not being less than 21 days from the giving of the notice) within which he may apply for an opportunity to be heard; and, in the event of that person making any representations (whether orally or in writing) to the Minister under this paragraph, the Minister shall reconsider whether that person is unfit to act or has failed to perform his functions as a plant inspection assistant under these Regulations and shall reconsider, as soon as practicable, his decision to revoke or suspend the authorisation under paragraph (3) above in the light of those representations.