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Powers of entry and inspectors' powers

5.—(1) An inspector on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing his or her authority, has a right at all reasonable hours, to enter any land or premises for the purpose of ensuring that these Regulations and the Commission Regulation are being complied with; and in this regulation “premises” includes any vehicle or container.

(2) An inspector may—

(a)seize any animal by-products and dispose of them as necessary;

(b)carry out any inquiries, examinations and tests;

(c)take any samples;

(d)have access to, and inspect and copy any records (in whatever form they are held) kept under these Regulations or the Commission Regulation, or remove those records to enable them to be copied;

(e)have access to, inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records; and for this purpose may require any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material to give him or her any assistance he or she may reasonably require (including providing him or her with any necessary passwords) and, where a record is kept by means of a computer, may require the records to be produced in a form in which they may be taken away;

(f)mark any animal, animal by-product or other thing for identification purposes; and

(g)take any other persons with him or her, as he or she considers necessary.

(3) Any person who defaces, obliterates or removes any mark applied under paragraph (2)(f) is guilty of an offence.

(4) If an inspector enters any unoccupied premises he or she must leave them as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as he or she found them.