Regulation 4 Powers of authorised officers

(1)

For the purpose of enforcing or executing any Community provision or any provision of these regulations, an authorised officer shall, on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing his authority, have a right—

(a)

to enter at all reasonable hours any premises (other than premises used only as a dwelling) where any activity regulated by a Community provision is being, or is reasonably suspected of being, carried on;

(b)

to conduct on such premises such tests and checks as may reasonably be necessary;

(c)

to require any person not to remove or cause to be removed from such premises such number of poultry carcases as may be reasonable in the circumstances pending the result of any test, check, analysis or counter-analysis;

(d)

to detain or cause to be detained at any place suitable for the purpose such number of poultry carcases as may be reasonable in the circumstances pending the result of any test, check, analysis or counter-analysis;

(e)

notwithstanding anything in section 92(1) of the Food and Drugs Act 1955, to carry out initial checks on the water content of any poultry carcase in accordance with the rapid detection method described in Annex II to the Council regulation, as provided in article 4(1) of that regulation;

(f)

to require the production of the register which slaughterhouses are required to keep by virtue of article 2(1) of the Council regulation.

(2)

The provisions of paragraph (1) of this regulation shall apply in relation to any ship, aircraft or vehicle and any land or place other than premises (other than any ship, aircraft, vehicle, land or place used only as a dwelling) as they apply in relation to premises.

(3)

An authorised officer entering any premises, ship, aircraft, vehicle, land or other place by virtue of this regulation may take with him such other persons and such equipment as are reasonably necessary.