Paragraph 4 Powers of an authorised officer

(1)

For the purposes of carrying out functions under this Scheme, an authorised officer may at any reasonable time, and upon production, if so required, of his authority, enter any premises where an animal is kept or is suspected on reasonable grounds to be kept.

(2)

The owner or person in charge of any animal kept on premises entered under sub-paragraph (1) and the owner or occupier of, and any person employed on or in, such premises shall, upon request by an authorised officer—

(a)

present all animals in his charge;

(b)

pen, restrain or otherwise secure such animals in such manner as the officer may require so as to enable him to carry out functions under this Scheme; and

(c)

inform the officer, in writing if so required, of the number of animals of each species in his charge.

(3)

An authorised officer may for identification purposes, paint, stamp or clip any mark on any animal kept on premises entered under sub-paragraph (1) or cause such an animal to be so marked.

(4)

A person shall not alter, remove, obliterate, deface or duplicate any mark applied under sub-paragraph (3).