The Food (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Persons obstructing execution of Order

50.—(1) A person who wilfully obstructs any person acting in the execution of this Order, or of any regulation, byelaw, order or warrant made or issued under this Order, shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) If—

(a) a sampling officer applies to purchase any food or substance exposed for sale, or on sale by retail, and tenders the price for the quantity which he requires as a sample, and the person exposing the food or substance for sale, or having it for sale, refuses to sell to the officer the quantity which he requires as a sample; or

(b) the seller or consignor of any article or substance of which the officer has power to take a sample, or a person having the charge for the time being of such an article or substance, refuses to allow the officer to take the quantity which he requires as a sample;

then the person so refusing shall, subject to paragraph (3), be treated for the purposes of paragraph (1) as having wilfully obstructed the officer.

(3) Where any food or substance is exposed for sale in an unopened container duly labelled, a person shall not be required to sell that food or substance except in the unopened container in which it is contained.

(4) A person who—

(a) fails to give to any person acting in the execution of this Order, or of any regulation, byelaw, order or warrant made or issued under this Order, any assistance which that person may reasonably request him to give, or any information which that person is expressly authorised by this Order to call for or may reasonably require, or

(b) when required to give any such information, knowingly makes any misstatement in respect of it,

shall, subject to paragraph (5), be guilty of an offence.

(5) Nothing in paragraph (4) shall be construed as requiring a person to answer any question or give any information, if so to do might incriminate him.