Abattoirs Act, 1988

Allocation of, and duties and powers of, veterinary inspectors.

36.—(1) A local authority shall allocate one or more veterinary inspectors to carry out the duties conferred on a veterinary inspector by this Act to each abattoir in its functional area but may allocate any particular veterinary inspector to two or more abattoirs.

(2) A veterinary inspector shall attend at each abattoir to which he is allocated at such times as the local authority, after consultation with the holder of the licence, may determine and there examine, in accordance with this Act and Regulations made thereunder, all animals, carcases, meat, offal and viscera that he finds therein and the conditions of hygiene and maintenance pertaining at such abattoir.

(3) A local authority shall make such arrangements as it considers reasonable and necessary for the inspection of each knackery in its functional area.

(4) A veterinary inspector may examine, and carry out such tests as he considers necessary on, any animal, or part thereof, or the carcase, meat, offal or viscera of any animal which he finds in an abattoir or in a knackery and he may take and remove, without payment, samples of—

(a) the animal or part thereof, or the carcase, meat, offal or viscera of any animal he finds therein, or

(b) any materials used therein.

(5) A veterinary inspector may at all reasonable times enter and inspect any abattoir or knackery for the purpose of exercising his powers and duties under this Act and the Regulations made thereunder.

(6) Any person who obstructs or unreasonably delays a veterinary inspector in the exercise of his powers and duties under this Act and the Regulations made thereunder shall be guilty of an offence.