Registration of Potato Growers and Potato Packers Act, 1984

Powers of authorised officers.

7.—(1) An authorised officer may, for the purpose of obtaining any information which the Minister may require for enabling him to exercise any of the functions conferred on him by this Act—

(a) enter and inspect, at all reasonable times, any land on which the officer reasonably believes that potatoes are being grown for sale, packed for sale or offered for sale and require the occupier of such land—

(i) to produce to the officer any books, records or documents relating to the growing of potatoes, packing of potatoes or sale of potatoes on such land,

(ii) to give to the officer such information within his knowledge as the officer may reasonably require with regard to entries in such books, documents or records, or

(iii) to give to the officer such packages of potatoes found on such land as the officer may reasonably require for the purposes of any proceedings in respect of offences under this Act,

and

(b) enter and inspect, at all reasonable times, any vehicle which the officer believes to contain packages of potatoes, and require the person in charge of such vehicle—

(i) to produce to the officer any records or documents in his possession relating to any packages of potatoes on such vehicle,

(ii) to give to the officer such information within his knowledge as the officer may reasonably require with regard to entries in such documents or records, or

(iii) to give to the officer such packages of potatoes found on the vehicle as the officer may reasonably require for the purposes of any proceedings in respect of offences under this Act.

(2) Any person who obstructs or impedes an authorised officer in the exercise of any of his powers under subsection (1) of this section or does not comply with a requirement of an authorised officer under the said subsection (1), shall be guilty of an offence under this section.