Regulation 7 Marking and examination of animals

(1)

If a competent authority—

(a)

is of the opinion as a result of information—

(i)

revealed by a primary analysis or reference analysis of an official sample submitted by that competent authority, or

(ii)

supplied by another competent authority or by the competent authority of another Member State, or

(b)

otherwise, has reasonable grounds for suspecting,

that any animal at the farm of origin or any other place may contain a residue of a prohibited substance or a quantity of an authorised substance exceeding the maximum level prescribed for that substance, the competent authority shall have the powers specified in paragraph (2) below.

(2)

The competent authority may—

(a)

paint, stamp, clip, tag or otherwise mark, or cause to be marked, that animal;

(b)

subject that animal to such examination for the presence of residues, including the taking and analysis of samples, as the competent authority may reasonably consider to be necessary;

(c)

give notice in writing to the owner of the animal that, during the period of the examination, that animal shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of except with the written consent of an official veterinary surgeon.

(3)

A notice given under paragraph (2)(c) above may relate to more than one animal.