Abattoirs Act, 1988
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Powers of authorised officer and Garda Síochána. |
54.—(1) An authorised officer or a member of the Garda Síochána may— | |
(a) enter, by force if necessary, and inspect any premises which is, or which he reasonably suspects is, being used as an abattoir or as a knackery; | ||
(b) enter, by force if necessary, and inspect any vehicle or container which is, or which he reasonably suspects is, being used in connection with an abattoir or with a knackery; | ||
(c) request the production of, or search for, and inspect any records kept in such premises, vehicle or container which relate to animals, fees, or the business of an abattoir or knackery, as the case may be; | ||
(d) take copies of, or remove, any records found on such premises, vehicle or container for examination or for the purposes of any proceedings under this Act. | ||
(2) The powers conferred on an authorised officer by section 18 or 33 of this Act may be exercised only by a person who has, in his instrument of appointment, been authorised to exercise those powers. | ||
(3) The holder of an abattoir licence or, as the case may be, a knackery licence, or any person employed by such holder shall, upon request by an authorised officer or a member of the Garda Síochána, as the case may be, produce all records kept on the premises and shall permit the authorised officer or the member of the Garda Síochána, to inspect, copy or, as the case may be, remove such records. | ||
(4) The person in charge of any vehicle or container, which is, or which an authorised officer or a member of the Garda Síochána reasonably suspects is being, used in connection with an abattoir or a knackery, shall, on request by the authorised officer or the member of the Garda Síochána, as the case may be, produce all records kept on or in the vehicle or container, and shall permit the authorised officer or the member of the Garda Síochána to inspect, copy or, as the case may be, remove such records. | ||
(5) An authorised officer or a member of the Garda Síochána, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by subsection (1) of this section, may seize, detain and remove any meat intended for human consumption which he finds in an abattoir, knackery, vehicle or container and which— | ||
(a) does not bear a health mark, or | ||
(b) bears an unapproved health mark, or | ||
(c) has already been marked as unfit for human consumption, or | ||
(d) is otherwise unfit, or he reasonably suspects is unfit, for human consumption. | ||
(6) Whenever an authorised officer or a member of the Garda Síochána seizes, detains or removes any meat pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, he shall cause the meat to be examined by a veterinary inspector and, if the veterinary inspector declares that such meat is unfit for human consumption, the meat shall be marked and be destroyed or be otherwise disposed of in accordance with the provisions of veterinary examination Regulations. | ||
(7) An authorised officer or a member of the Garda Síochána may enter any premises, other than an abattoir or a knackery, where meat is, or where he reasonably suspects meat is being, kept for sale for human consumption and he may seize, detain and remove such meat as he finds in such premises which— | ||
(a) does not bear a health mark, or | ||
(b) bears an unapproved health mark, or | ||
(c) has already been marked as unfit for human consumption, or | ||
(d) is otherwise unfit, or he reasonably suspects is unfit, for human consumption. | ||
(8) Whenever an authorised officer or a member of the Garda Síochána seizes, detains or removes any meat pursuant to subsection (7) of this section, he shall cause the meat to be examined by a veterinary inspector and, if the veterinary inspector declares that such meat is unfit for human consumption, the meat shall be marked and be destroyed or be otherwise disposed of in accordance with the provisions of veterinary examination Regulations. | ||
(9) Any person who obstructs or unreasonably delays an authorised officer or a member of the Garda Síochána in the exercise of his powers under this Act or who fails to facilitate an inspection of a premises, vehicle or container by an authorised officer or a member of the Garda Síochána shall be guilty of an offence. |