The Wine Regulations 2009

Powers of authorised officers

7.—(1) An authorised officer may, on producing a duly authenticated authorisation if required, at any reasonable time enter any land or vehicle (other than any land or a vehicle used solely as a dwelling), for the purpose of enforcing these Regulations or ascertaining whether there has been a breach of any relevant Community provision.

(2) An authorised officer who has entered any land or vehicle may—

(a) inspect any materials or articles;

(b) have access to, and inspect and copy any documents or records (in whatever form they are held), and remove them to enable them to be copied;

(c) have access to, inspect and check the operation of any computer and any associated apparatus used in connection with the records; and may require any person to afford such assistance as may reasonably be required, and may require any computer records to be produced in a form in which they may be taken away;

(d) seize and retain anything required as evidence in proceedings under these Regulations;

(e) undertake an inventory of wine-sector products and of anything which may be used in the preparation of products; and

(f) purchase or take samples of any wine-sector product and of anything which may be used in its preparation.

(3) An authorised officer who has procured a sample of any wine-sector product may analyse or examine that sample or have that sample analysed or examined.

(4) An authorised officer entering any land or vehicle by virtue of this regulation may be accompanied by such other person as is considered necessary or by a representative of the European Commission.