Article 8

Member States shall ensure that:

1. 1..

   F1at the time of the import, manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and use of the substances referred to in Articles 2 and 3, their possession is restricted to the persons authorised by national legislation in accordance with Article 68 of Directive 2001/82/EC.

2. 2..

   in addition to the checks provided for in the Directives governing the placing on the market of the various products in question, the official checks provided for in Article 11 of Directive 96/23/EC^f1 are carried out by the competent national authorities without prior notice, with a view to ascertaining:

   1. (a)

      the possession or presence of substances or products prohibited under Articles 2 and 3, intended to be administered to animals for the purpose of fattening;

   2. (b)

      the illegal treatment of animals;

   3. (c)

      failure to observe the withdrawal periods provided for in Article 6;

   4. (d)

      failure to observe the restrictions on the use of certain substances or products laid down in in Articles 4, 5 F2 and 5a ;

3. 3..

   the tests for the presence of:

   1. (a)

      the substances referred to in point 1 in animals, in the drinking water of animals and in all places where animals are bred or kept;

   2. (b)

      residues of the aforementioned substances in live animals, their excrement and body fluids and in animal tissues and products

   are carried out in accordance with Annexes III and IV to Directive 96/23/EC;

4. 4..

   where the checks provided for in points 2 and 3 reveal:

   1. (a)

      the presence of substances or products the use or possession of which is prohibited, or the presence of residues of substances the administering of which comes under the heading of illegal treatment, such substances or products are confiscated, while any animals treated or the meat therefrom is placed under official supervision until the requisite penalties have been applied;

   2. (b)

      failure to comply with the requirements of points 2 (b) and (c), the competent authority takes appropriate measures consistent with the gravity of the infringement.