The TSE (England) Regulations 2002

Suspension and withdrawal of approvals

20.—(1) The Secretary of State may suspend or withdraw an approval of any premises approved under this Part of these Regulations if it appears to her that—

(a) the premises are being used otherwise than in accordance with these Regulations or the approval;

(b) any condition specified in a Schedule to these Regulations which relate to the approval of the premises has not been complied with;

(c) the premises are not ABPO approved;

(d) inspection of the premises for the purposes of these Regulations is being hampered or denied;

(e) a notice has been served on the occupier in relation to the use of the premises under this Part of these Regulations and—

(i) the Secretary of State is not satisfied that the action required by the notice to be taken by the occupier has been taken within the time required; and

(ii) as a result there is a risk that the premises will be used otherwise than in accordance with the approval, any condition specified in the approval will not be complied with or inspection of the premises for the purposes of these Regulations will be hampered or denied;

(f) the person using the premises for the use for which they are approved no longer wishes to carry on that use of the premises; or

(g) the premises are not being used for the use for which they are approved.

(2) Before suspending or withdrawing an approval the Secretary of State shall—

(a) give notice of the intended suspension or withdrawal to the occupier of the premises (or, in the case of a suspension or withdrawal under paragraph (1)(g) above, to the person known to the Secretary of State as the last person to use the premises for the use for which they are approved and to any other person who appears to her to be in current occupation of the premises); and

(b) have regard to any representations made to her by that person in relation to the intended suspension or withdrawal.

(3) A notice of suspension or withdrawal of an approval shall include the following information—

(a) a summary of the decision of the Secretary of State to suspend or withdraw the approval and a description of the use of the premises for which the approval is suspended or withdrawn;

(b) the reason for the suspension or withdrawal;

(c) the time from which the suspension or withdrawal takes effect, which—

(i) in respect of a suspension, may be any time after the notice is given; and

(ii) in respect of a withdrawal, must be at least 21 days after the date on which the notice is given;

(d) in respect of a suspension, the matters which must be remedied for the suspension to be lifted;

(e) a statement of the right of the person to whom the notice is given to appeal under this Part of these Regulations against the suspension or withdrawal and the period within which and the person or tribunal to whom an appeal may be made; and

(f) in respect of a withdrawal, any conditions for the protection of public or animal health to which any continued use of the premises for an approved use after the withdrawal takes effect is subject pending an appeal.

(4) Where a suspension of an approval of premises under this regulation has taken effect the premises shall be treated as if they were not approved for the use for which the approval is suspended.

(5) The Secretary of State shall lift a suspension of an approval where—

(a) she is satisfied that—

(i) the reason for the suspension no longer applies; and

(ii) the person who would use the premises for the use for which they are approved will use the premises in accordance with the approval and the conditions of the approval; or

(b) the determination of an appeal under this Part of these Regulations against the suspension is that the approval should not have been suspended.

(6) Where the Secretary of State lifts a suspension she shall give notice of this to the person to whom she gave notice of the suspension.

(7) Premises may continue to be used by the occupier for a use for which an approval is withdrawn during the period of 21 days after the notification to the occupier of the withdrawal.

(8) After the expiry of this period the premises may not be used for the use for which the approval is withdrawn unless before the period expired an appeal was made in accordance with regulation 21 below and the appeal has not been finally disposed of or abandoned.

(9) Where the Secretary of State has given notice of a decision to withdraw the approval of premises the occupier of the premises shall not use the premises for that use except in accordance with any conditions for the protection of public or animal health included in the notice of withdrawal.