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Powers of authorised officers

4.—(1) An authorised officer shall, on producing, if so required, a duly authenticated document showing his authority, have the right at all reasonable hours to enter any premises (other than premises used as a dwelling) for the purposes of ascertaining whether there is or has been on the premises any contravention of these Regulations; and in this regulation “premises” includes any place, installation, vehicle, ship, vessel, boat, craft, hovercraft or aircraft.

(2) An authorised officer entering any premises in accordance with paragraph (1) above may take with him such other persons acting under his instructions as he considers necessary.

(3) An authorised officer shall have powers to carry out all checks and examinations necessary for the enforcement of these Regulations, and in particular may—

(a)take such samples (and, if necessary, send the samples for laboratory testing) as are necessary to ascertain whether the provisions of these Regulations have been or are being complied with;

(b)examine, seize and retain documentary or other material relevant to the checks carried out under these Regulations;

(c)(where any such material is kept in electronic form) require a printout of that material; and

(d)take with him a representative of the European Commission acting for the purposes of Council Directive 90/667/EEC laying down the veterinary rules for the disposal and processing of animal waste, for its placing on the market and for the prevention of pathogens in feedstuffs of animal or fish origin and amending Directive 90/425/EEC(1), as amended on the date these Regulations are made.

(1)

OJ No. L363, 27.12.90, p.51, as last amended by Council Decision 95/1/EC, Euratom, ECSC adjusting the instruments concerning the accession of new member States of the European Union (OJ No. L1, 1.1.95, p.1).