The Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

PART 2N.I.MAIN PROVISIONS

Competent authoritiesN.I.

3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (4), any body specified in Column 1 of Schedule 4 is designated as a competent authority for the purposes of the provisions of [F1Regulation 2017/625] indicated in the corresponding entry in Column 2 of that Schedule in so far as those provisions apply in relation to relevant feed law.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) to (5), any body specified in Column 1 of Schedule 5 is designated as a competent authority for the purposes of the provisions of [F2Regulation 2017/625] indicated in the corresponding entry in Column 2 of that Schedule in so far as those provisions apply in relation to relevant food law.

(3) Where a district council is designated as a competent authority pursuant to paragraph (2) the designation shall extend to its district only.

F3(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Where the Agency is designated as a competent authority pursuant to paragraph (2) for the purposes of [F4Article 148 of Regulation 2017/625, the designation extends], only to those operations in respect of which the Agency executes and enforces the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 by virtue of regulation 5(2) of those Regulations.

Exchanging and providing informationN.I.

4.—(1) For the purposes of enabling competent authorities, other OFFC authorities and member States to fulfil the obligations placed upon them by [F5Regulation 2017/625] competent authorities may exchange among themselves or provide to other OFFC authorities any information received by them in the execution and enforcement of relevant feed law or relevant food law.

(2) For the purpose of executing and enforcing relevant feed law or relevant food law, competent authorities may exchange among themselves any information received by them in the execution and enforcement of such law.

(3) For the purposes of facilitating the execution and enforcement of relevant feed law or relevant food law in England, Wales and Scotland, competent authorities may share information received by them in the execution and enforcement of relevant feed law or relevant food law with the bodies that execute and enforce such law in those countries.

(4) Paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) are without prejudice to any other power of competent authorities to disclose information by or under [F6EU ] legislation.

(5) For the purposes of this regulation, “other OFFC authorities” means authorities designated in the United Kingdom as competent authorities for the purposes of [F7Regulation 2017/625] other than the competent authorities designated under these Regulations.

Obtaining informationN.I.

5.—(1) For the purpose of enabling competent authorities and member States to fulfil the obligations placed on them by [F8Regulation 2017/625] and for the purpose of executing and enforcing relevant feed law or relevant food law, a competent authority may require a [F9delegated body] —

(a)to provide the competent authority with any information which it has reasonable cause to believe the [F9delegated body] is able to give; and

(b)to make available to the competent authority for inspection by it any records which it has reasonable cause to believe are held by the [F9delegated body] or are otherwise within its control (and, if they are kept in computerised form, to make them available in a legible form).

(2) The competent authority may copy any records made available to it under paragraph (1)(b).

(3) A person who —

(a)fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any requirement imposed under paragraph (1); or

(b)in purported compliance with such a requirement furnishes information which that person knows to be false or misleading in any material particular or recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in any material particular,

is guilty of an offence.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the term “[F10delegated body]” includes any member, officer or employee of a [F10delegated body].

Power to issue codes of recommended practiceN.I.

6.—(1) For the guidance of district councils the Department may issue codes of recommended practice as regards —

(a)functions conferred upon district councils in their capacity as competent authorities by or under [F11Regulation 2017/625]; or

(b)the execution and enforcement of the Import Provisions;

and any such code shall be laid before the Assembly after being issued.

(2) The Agency may, after consulting the Department, give a district council a direction requiring it to take any specified steps in order to comply with a code issued under this regulation.

(3) In exercise of the functions conferred on it as a competent authority by or under [F12Regulation 2017/625] and in the execution and enforcement of the Import Provisions, each district council —

(a)shall have regard to any relevant provision of any such code; and

(b)shall comply with any direction which is given under this regulation that requires it to take any specified steps in order to comply with such a code.

(4) Any direction under paragraph (2) shall, on the application of the Agency, be enforceable by an order of mandamus.

(5) The Agency shall consult the Department before making an application under paragraph (4).

(6) Before issuing any code under this regulation, the Department shall have regard to any relevant advice given by the Agency.

Monitoring of enforcement actionN.I.

7.—(1) The Agency has the function of monitoring the performance of enforcement authorities in enforcing relevant audit legislation.

(2) That function includes, in particular, setting standards of performance (whether for enforcement authorities generally or for particular authorities) in relation to the enforcement of any relevant audit legislation.

(3) Each annual report of the Agency shall contain a report on its activities during the year in enforcing any relevant audit legislation for which it is the enforcement authority and its performance in respect of —

(a)any standards under paragraph (2) that apply to those activities; and

(b)any objectives relating to those activities that are specified in the statement of objectives and practices under section 22 of the Food Standards Act 1999(1).

(4) The Agency may make a report to any other enforcement authority on their performance in enforcing any relevant audit legislation and such a report may include guidance as to action which the Agency considers would improve that performance.

(5) The Agency may direct an authority to which such a report has been made —

(a)to arrange for the publication in such manner as may be specified in the direction of, or of specified information relating to, the report; and

(b)within such period as may be so specified to notify the Agency of what action they have taken or propose to take in response to the report.

(6) Section 19 of the Food Standards Act 1999 shall apply in relation to information obtained through monitoring under this regulation as if it were information obtained through monitoring under section 12 of that Act.

Power to request information relating to enforcement actionN.I.

8.—(1) For the purpose of carrying out its function under regulation 7 in relation to any enforcement authority the Agency may require a person mentioned in paragraph (2) —

(a)to provide the Agency with any information which it has reasonable cause to believe that person is able to give; or

(b)to make available to the Agency for inspection any records which it has reasonable cause to believe are held by that person or otherwise within that person’s control (and, if they are kept in computerised form, to make them available in a legible form).

(2) A requirement under paragraph (1) may be imposed on —

(a)the enforcement authority or any member, officer or employee of the authority; or

(b)a person subject to any duty under relevant audit legislation (being a duty enforceable by an enforcement authority) or any officer or employee of such a person.

(3) The Agency may copy any records made available to it in pursuance of a requirement under paragraph (1)(b).

Power of entry for persons monitoring enforcement actionN.I.

9.—(1) The Agency may authorise any individual (whether a member of its staff or otherwise) to exercise the powers specified in paragraph (4) for the purpose of carrying out its function under regulation 7 in relation to any enforcement authority.

(2) An authorisation under this regulation shall not be issued except in pursuance of a decision taken by the Agency itself or by a committee, sub–committee or member of the Agency acting on behalf of the Agency.

(3) An authorisation under this regulation shall be in writing and may be given subject to any limitations or conditions specified in the authorisation (including conditions relating to hygienic precautions to be taken while exercising powers in pursuance of the authorisation).

(4) An authorised person may —

(a)enter any premises mentioned in paragraph (5) at any reasonable hour in order to inspect the premises or anything which may be found on them;

(b)take samples of any articles or substances found on such premises;

(c)inspect and copy any records found on such premises (and, if they are kept in computerised form, require them to be made available in a legible form);

(d)require any person present on such premises to provide such facilities, such records or information and such other assistance as the authorised person may reasonably request.

(5) The premises which may be entered by an authorised person are —

(a)any premises occupied by the enforcement authority;

(b)any laboratory or similar premises at which work related to the enforcement of any relevant legislation has been carried out for the enforcement authority; and

(c)any other premises (not being a private dwelling–house) which the authorised person has reasonable cause to believe are premises in respect of which the enforcement powers of the enforcement authority are (or have been) exercisable.

(6) The power to enter premises conferred on authorised persons includes power to take with them any other person they may consider appropriate.

(7) Authorised persons shall on request —

(a)produce their authorisation before exercising any powers under paragraph (4); and

(b)provide a document identifying any sample taken, or documents copied, under those powers.

(8) If a person (A) who enters any premises by virtue of this regulation discloses to any other person any information obtained on the premises with regard to any trade secret A is, unless the disclosure is made in the performance of a duty, guilty of an offence.

(9) Where the Agency is the enforcement authority in relation to relevant audit legislation this regulation applies in relation to the Agency in respect of its performance in enforcing those provisions, with the omission of paragraph (5)(a).

(10) In this regulation “authorised person” means a person authorised under this regulation.

Meaning of “enforcement authority” and related expressionsN.I.

10.—(1) In regulations 7 to 9 “relevant audit legislation” means relevant feed law and relevant food law in respect of which the Agency is designated as a competent authority pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) respectively of regulation 3 but does not include “relevant legislation” as defined in section 15 of the Food Standards Act 1999.

(2) In regulations 7 to 9 “enforcement authority” means the authority by whom relevant audit legislation is to be enforced and includes the Agency itself if by virtue of that legislation it is the enforcement authority in relation to it but does not include the European Commission; and “enforcement” in relation to relevant audit legislation includes the execution of any provisions of that legislation.

(3) Any reference in regulations 7 to 9 (however expressed) to the performance of an enforcement authority in enforcing any relevant audit legislation includes a reference to the capacity of that authority to enforce it.

Offences relating to regulations 8 and 9N.I.

11.  A person who —

(a)intentionally obstructs a person exercising powers under paragraph (4)(a), (b) or (c) of regulation 9;

(b)fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any requirement imposed under paragraph (1) of regulation 8 or paragraph (4)(d) of regulation 9; or

(c)in purported compliance with such a requirement furnishes information which that person knows to be false or misleading in any material particular or recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in any material particular,

is guilty of an offence.

Right of appealN.I.

12.—(1) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the competent authority taken in respect of an establishment subject to approval under Article 4(2) of Regulation 853/2004 pursuant to —

(a)[F13Article 148(3) of Regulation 2017/625 (approval)];

(b)[F14Article 148(4) of Regulation 2017/625]; or

(c)[F15Article 138(2)(j) of Regulation 2017/625 (suspension or withdrawal of approval)],

may appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction.

(2) The procedure on an appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction under paragraph (1) shall be by way of notice under Part VII of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(2).

(3) The period within which an appeal under paragraph (1) may be brought shall be one month from and including the date on which notice of the decision was served on the person desiring to appeal.

(4) Where on an appeal under paragraph (1) a court of summary jurisdiction determines that the decision of the competent authority is incorrect, the authority shall give effect to the determination of the court.

F16(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Staff of competent authority of another member StateN.I.

13.  Authorised officers of a competent authority may take with them members of staff of the competent authority of another member State for the purpose of conducting an administrative enquiry under [F17Article 104(3) of Regulation 2017/625].

Commission expertsN.I.

14.—(1) When enforcing officers enter premises for the purposes of executing and enforcing official controls they may take with them Commission experts [F18and a national expert, appointed for the purposes of Article 116(4) of Regulation 2017/625, to accompany and enable the Commission experts] to carry out functions under [F19Article 116 of Regulation 2017/625].

(2) In paragraph (1) and in regulation 16 (5)(b) “enforcing officer” means an authorised officer of any authority which is responsible for executing and enforcing official controls for the verification of compliance with relevant feed law or relevant food law.

Prohibition on disclosure of trade secretsN.I.

15.  If a person (A) enters any premises by virtue of regulation 13 or 14 and discloses to any other person any information obtained on the premises with regard to any trade secret A is, unless the disclosure is made in the performance of a duty, guilty of an offence.

Execution and enforcementN.I.

16.—(1) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing paragraph (3) of regulation 5 shall be the competent authority who imposed the requirement on the [F20delegated body] concerned under paragraph (1) of that regulation.

(2) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing paragraph (8) of regulation 9 and regulation 11 shall be the Agency.

(3) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing regulation 15 shall be the authority whose officer took the person who made the disclosure on to the premises concerned.

(4) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing paragraph (9) of regulation 17 shall be the authority who authorised the person who entered the premises and disclosed the information.

(5) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing regulation 18 shall—

(a)where the offence relates to the execution of regulation 13, be the competent authority whose authorised officer took with them a member of staff of the competent authority of another member State;

(b)where the offence relates to the execution of regulation 14, be the authority whose enforcing officer took with them a Commission expert [F21and, where relevant, a national expert]; and

(c)where the offence relates to the execution of regulation 17, be the relevant enforcement authority whose authorised officer exercised powers under that regulation.

Powers of entryN.I.

17.—(1) Authorised officers of a district council shall, on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing their authority, have a right at all reasonable hours —

(a)to enter any premises within the district for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been on the premises a contravention of any provision of this Part for which that district council has enforcement responsibility pursuant to regulation 16; and

(b)to enter any premises, whether within or outside the district, for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is on the premises any evidence of such a contravention within that district,

but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling–house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

(2) Authorised officers of the feed authority shall, on producing if so required some duly authenticated document showing their authority, have a right at all reasonable hours to enter any premises for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been on the premises a contravention of any provision of this Part for which that authority has enforcement responsibility pursuant to regulation 16; but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling-house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

(3) Authorised officers of the Agency shall, on producing if so required some duly authenticated document showing their authority, have a right at all reasonable hours to enter any premises for the purpose of —

(a)ascertaining whether there is or has been on the premises a contravention of any provision of this Part for which the Agency has enforcement responsibility pursuant to regulation 16; and

(b)ascertaining whether there is on the premises any evidence of such a contravention,

but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling–house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

(4) If a lay magistrate, on sworn complaint in writing, is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for entry onto any premises for any such purpose as is mentioned in paragraph (1), (2) or (3) and either —

(a)that admission to the premises has been refused, or a refusal is apprehended, and that notice of the intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the occupier; or

(b)that an application for admission, or the giving of such a notice, would defeat the object of the entry, or that the case is one of urgency, or that the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent,

the lay magistrate may by signed warrant authorise the authorised officer to enter the premises, if need be by reasonable force.

(5) Every warrant granted under this regulation shall continue in force for a period of one month.

(6) Authorised officers entering any premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may take with them such other persons as they consider necessary, and on leaving any unoccupied premises which they have entered by virtue of such a warrant shall leave them as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as they found them.

(7) Authorised officers entering premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may inspect any records (in whatever form they are held) and, where any such records are stored in any electronic form —

(a)may have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records; and

(b)may require any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material to afford them such assistance as they may reasonably require.

(8) Any officers exercising any power conferred by paragraph (7) may —

(a)seize and detain any records which they have reason to believe may be required as evidence in proceedings under any of the provisions of this Part; and

(b)where the records are stored in any electronic form, require the records to be produced in a form in which they may be taken away.

(9) If a person (A) who enters any premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, discloses to any other person any information obtained by A on the premises with regard to any trade secret, A shall, unless the disclosure was made in the performance of a duty, be guilty of an offence.

(10) Nothing in this regulation authorises any person, except with the permission of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development under the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(3), to enter any premises —

(a)on which an animal or bird affected with any disease to which that Order applies is kept; and

(b)which is situated in a place declared under that Order to be infected with such a disease.

Obstruction etc. of officersN.I.

18.—(1) A person who —

(a)intentionally obstructs any person acting in the execution of regulation 13, 14 or 17 ; or

(b)without reasonable cause, fails to give to any person acting in the execution of regulation 13, 14 or 17 any assistance or information which that person may reasonably require of them for the performance of their functions under those regulations,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person who, in purported compliance with any such requirement as is mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)—

(a)furnishes information which that person knows to be false or misleading in a material particular; or

(b)recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in a material particular,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) Nothing in paragraph (1)(b) shall be construed as requiring any person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate that person.

PenaltiesN.I.

19.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (9) of regulation 17 shall be liable —

(a)on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or

(b)on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (3) of regulation 5, paragraph (8) of regulation 9, regulation 11 or regulation 15 shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 18 shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.

Time limit for prosecutionsN.I.

20.  A prosecution for an offence under paragraph (9) of regulation 17 shall not be begun after the expiry of —

(a)three years from the commission of the offence; or

(b)one year from its discovery by the prosecution,

whichever is the earlier.