23.—(1) In proceedings for an offence under these Regulations, it is a defence for a person to show that they took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.
(2) A person is not, without the leave of the court, entitled to rely on the defence if it involves an allegation that the commission of the offence was due—
(a)to the act or default of another; or
(b)to reliance on information supplied by another;
unless, not less than seven clear days before the hearing of the proceedings [F1(in England, Wales and Northern Ireland), or the trial diet (in Scotland)], the person has served a notice on the person bringing the proceedings.
(3) The notice must give the information in the possession of the person (“A”) serving the notice which identifies or assists in identifying the person (“B”) who—
(a)committed the act or default; or
(b)supplied the information which was relied on.
(4) A may not rely on the defence by reason of reliance on information supplied by B, unless A shows that it was reasonable in all the circumstances to have relied on the information, having regard in particular—
(a)to the steps that A took and those which might reasonably have been taken for the purpose of verifying the information; and
(b)to whether A had any reason to disbelieve the information.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 23(2) omitted (N.I.) (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1112), reg. 1(b), Sch. 6 para. 1(8)