Offences

15.—(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if, without reasonable excuse, proof of which shall lie on him –

(a)he contravenes or fails to comply with Articles 3 or 5;

(b)he contravenes or fails to comply with a provision or condition of a notice served, or licence granted, under this Order; or

(c)he intentionally obstructs an inspector or any person authorised by an inspector in the exercise of his powers given by or under this Order.

(2) A person shall be guilty of an offence if, for the purpose of procuring the authority to issue a plant passport under this Order, he –

(a)makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular;

(b)recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular; or

(c)intentionally fails to disclose any material information.

(3) A person shall be guilty of an offence if he dishonestly issues a false plant passport under this Order.

(4) A person shall be guilty of an offence if he dishonestly alters a plant passport affixed to susceptible material or re-uses a plant passport for susceptible material which is not the material for which the plant passport was issued.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.