Citation, commencement and application

2.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Poultrymeat Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 and shall come into operation on 14th October 2011.

(2) These Regulations shall apply to poultrymeat described in point I(1) of Part B of Annex XIV to the Single CMO Regulation, excluding poultrymeat described in point I(2) of that Part of that Annex to that Regulation.

(3) These Regulations shall not apply to the direct supply of small quantities of poultrymeat by a producer with an annual production of under 10,000 birds where the meat-

(a)comes from poultry slaughtered on the producer's farm; and

(b)is supplied to -�

(i)the final consumer; or

(ii)a local retail establishment directly supplying such meat to the final consumer as fresh meat.

Interpretation

3.-(1) In these Regulations-

"authorised officer" means any person who has written authority from an enforcement authority to act in matters arising under these Regulations;

"Commission Regulation" means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 as regards the marketing standards for poultrymeat, as amended from time to time;

"Department" means the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development;

"enforcement authority" means an authority exercising a function conferred on it by regulation 9;

"European poultrymeat provision" means a provision of the Single CMO Regulation or the Commission Regulation specified in column 1 of Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 1, as read with any provision mentioned in the corresponding entry in column 2 of Part 1 or 2 of that Schedule;

"officer"-

"the Order" means the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991(7);

"poultrymeat" has the meaning given by point II(1) of Part B to Annex XIV to the Single CMO Regulation;

"premises" means any place, including those requiring inspection under Article 12(5)(a) to (d) of the Commission Regulation, and any vehicle, trailer, stall or moveable structure; and

"Single CMO Regulation" means Council Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provision for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation).

(2) In these Regulations, any reference to Part B of Annex XIV to the Single CMO Regulation is a reference to Part B of Annex XIV to the Single CMO Regulation as amended from time to time.

(3) Other expressions used in these Regulations and in the Single CMO Regulation or the Commission Regulation shall have the same meaning in these Regulations as in the European Regulation in which they are used.

(4) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(8) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Offences

4. A person is guilty of an offence if that person contravenes a provision of the Commission Regulation referred to in column 1 of Schedule 2, as read with any provision mentioned in the corresponding entry in column 2 of that Schedule.

Temperature requirement for fresh poultrymeat

5.-(1) Poultrymeat that is cut and handled in premises of the type mentioned in paragraph (2) and is marketed on those premises as fresh poultrymeat shall be kept on those premises at a temperature not below -�2ºC and not higher than 8ºC(9).

(2) The type of premises are-

(a)retail shops; and

(b)premises adjacent to sales points,

where the cutting and handling are performed solely for the purpose of supplying the consumer directly on the spot.

Registration as required by Article 12 of the Commission Regulation

6.-(1) The Department is designated as the competent authority for the purpose of registration of slaughterhouses and producers as required by Article 12 of the Commission Regulation.

(2) Any person who wishes to operate as-

(a)a slaughterhouse; or

(b)a producer,

authorised to use the terms specified in Article 11 of the Commission Regulation may make an application in writing to the Department.

(3) Where the Department receives an application for registration, the Department shall notify the applicant in writing of the matters specified in paragraph (4) without unreasonable delay.

(4) The specified matters are-

(a)the Department's decision on the application;

(b)the reasons for any refusal of registration; and

(c)the right of appeal conferred by regulation 6 in the case of any refusal of registration.

(5) Where the Department decides to cancel a registration, the Department shall notify the producer, or the person carrying on the business of the slaughterhouse concerned, as the case may be, of the matters specified in paragraph (6).

(6) The specified matters are-

(a)the Department's decision to cancel the registration;

(b)the date on which the cancellation is to take effect;

(c)the reasons for the cancellation; and

(d)the right of appeal conferred by regulation 6.

Appeals against registration decisions

7.-(1) Any person who is aggrieved about a decision specified in paragraph (2) may appeal against that decision to a magistrates' court.

(2) The decisions are-

(a)refusal of registration, or

(b)cancellation of a registration.

(3) The procedure on an appeal to a magistrates' court under paragraph (1) shall be initiated by notice under Part VII of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(10).

(4) The period within which an appeal may be brought against a decision specified in paragraph (2) shall be 28 days, beginning with the day on which notification of the decision is given.

(5) The cancellation of a registration mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) shall not take effect until the time for appealing against it has expired or, if an appeal is lodged, until the appeal is finally disposed of or withdrawn.

Powers of a magistrates' court on appeal

8. On an appeal against a decision by the Department mentioned in regulation 6(2) the magistrates' court may either overturn the decision or confirm the decision.

Water content checks

9.-(1) Except where a water content check required by Article 16(1), (2), (3) or (4) or 20(2), (3) and (4) of the Commission Regulation is carried out by the Department, such a check shall be carried out by the food business operator of the slaughterhouse or cutting plant concerned.

(2) Except where a water content check referred to in paragraph (1) is carried out by the Department, such a check shall be carried out-

(a)at the food business operator's expense; and

(b)under the responsibility of, and in accordance with any directions given by, the Department.

(3) Schedule 3 shall have effect in relation to the fees payable to the Department for water content checks carried out by the Department.

(4) In this regulation "food business operator" shall have the same meaning as in Article 3(3) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety.

Enforcement

10.-(1) The Department shall enforce the European poultrymeat provisions in relation to-

(a)slaughterhouses and cutting plants;

(b)producers;

(c)poultrymeat imported from third countries; and

(d)the record keeping requirements in Article 12(2), (3) and (4) of the Commission Regulation.

(2) District councils shall enforce-

(a)the European poultrymeat provisions (other than at slaughterhouses, cutting plants and producers); and

(b)regulation 4.

Duty to give assistance and provide information

11. Each enforcement authority shall give such assistance and information to any other enforcement authority as that authority may reasonably require for the purpose of helping that authority perform its duties under these Regulations.

Powers of entry

12.-(1) An authorised officer may enter any premises (except premises used as a private dwelling house) at any reasonable hour for the purpose of ensuring that the provisions of these Regulations are being complied with.

(2) The authorised officer may be accompanied by-

(a)such other persons as the authorised officer considers necessary; and

(b)any representative of the European Commission.

(3) An authorised officer shall not exercise the powers under paragraph (1) or (2) except on the production, if so required, of a duly authenticated document showing the officer's authority.

(4) Admission to any premises used as a private dwelling house may not be demanded as of right unless the entry is in accordance with a warrant granted under this regulation.

(5) If a lay magistrate, by complaint on oath, is satisfied of the matters mentioned in paragraph (6), the lay magistrate may sign a warrant permitting an authorised officer to enter any premises, if need be by reasonable force.

(6) The matters are that-

(a)there are reasonable grounds for believing that Condition A or B is met; and

(b)Condition C, D, E or F is met.

(7) Condition A is that on the premises there are items of the type mentioned in regulation 12(1)(a) or documents or records of the type mentioned in regulation 13(1)(d) and that their inspection is likely to disclose evidence of a contravention of these Regulations.

(8) Condition B is that a contravention of these Regulations has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur on those premises.

(9) Condition C is that admission to the premises has been, or is likely to be, refused, and that the occupier has been informed (whether orally or in writing) that a warrant may be applied for.

(10) Condition D is that admission to the premises has been, or is likely to be, refused, and informing the occupier that a warrant under this regulation may be applied for may defeat the object of the entry.

(11) Condition E is that the premises are unoccupied or that the occupier is temporarily absent and it may defeat the object of the entry to await the occupier's return.

(12) Condition F is that the premises are used as a private dwelling house.

(13) A warrant granted under paragraph (5)-

(a)shall be valid for one month, beginning with the day on which it is granted; and

(b)shall be produced for inspection to the person (if there is one) who appears to the officer to be the occupier, or the person in charge of the premises.

(14) An authorised officer who enters any premises that are unoccupied or where the occupier is temporarily absent shall leave the premises as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as when the officer found them.

Powers of an authorised officer

13.-(1) An authorised officer ("O") entering premises under regulation 11 may-

(a)inspect the premises, and any plant, machinery or equipment on those premises, and any of the following found on those premises-

(i)any meat that O has reasonable grounds for believing is poultrymeat, (including giblets);

(ii)any container;

(iii)any label;

(iv)any packaging; and

(v)any live poultry;

(b)search the premises;

(c)carry out any inquiries, examinations or tests;

(d)have access to, and inspect and copy, any documents or records (in whatever form they are held) relating to matters covered by these Regulations, and remove them to enable them to be copied;

(e)have access to, and inspect and check the data on, and operation of, any computer, and any associated electronic storage device or apparatus ("computer equipment") that is, or has been in use in connection with, the documents or records mentioned in sub-paragraph (d), including data relating to deleted files and activity logs; and for this purpose O may require any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer equipment to afford to O such assistance (including the provision of passwords) as O may reasonably require, and, during the course of the checks, O may recover data held on the computer equipment; and

(f)where a document or record mentioned in sub-paragraph (d) is kept by means of a computer, require the record to be produced in a form in which it may be taken away.

(2) O may direct a person appearing to O to be in charge of the items or premises mentioned below that the following must be left undisturbed for as long as is reasonably necessary for the purpose of any examination or investigation-

(a)any one or more of the items mentioned in paragraph (1)(a)(i) to (v); and

(b)any premises on or in which any of those items are found.

(3) Where O gives a person a direction under paragraph (2) those items which are the subject of that direction shall be kept on the premises at that person's expense.

(4) O may seize and detain any item of the type mentioned in paragraph (1)(a)(i) to (iv) or document or record mentioned in paragraph 1(d) that O has reason to believe may be required as evidence in proceedings under these Regulations.

(5) O may seize as liable to destruction any item of the type mentioned in paragraph 1(a)(i) to (iv) that O reasonably believes contravenes any provision of these Regulations.

(6) O may seize any computer equipment for the purpose of copying documents or records of the type mentioned in paragraph (1)(d), and for checking the data on, and operation of, any computer equipment that is, or has been, in use in connection with those documents or records (and in doing so may recover data), provided the equipment is returned as soon as practicable and, in any event, within 14 days, beginning with the day on which the equipment is seized.

(7) If O is not able to remove an item or computer equipment seized under paragraph (4), (5) or (6) immediately, O may-

(a)mark it in any way that O sees fit; and

(b)give the person appearing to O to be in charge of the item or computer equipment a notice ("a regulation 12(7) notice")-

(i)identifying it;

(ii)requiring the item or computer equipment to be left undisturbed until it is collected by O; and

(iii)prohibiting the removal of the item or computer equipment from the premises on which it was found until it is collected by O.

(8) Where, in accordance with Article 8 of the Commission Regulation, O has checked a batch of poultrymeat and is satisfied that it does not comply with the requirements of Article 1 or 7 of the Commission Regulation, O may direct any person appearing to O to be in charge of the batch or premises not to market or import that batch until such time as proof has been produced to the enforcement authority that it has been made to comply with those requirements.

(9) O may give such directions as O thinks appropriate in relation to a batch of poultrymeat to which paragraph (10) applies-

(a)to prevent it being marketed in the European Union until the packaging has been marked, under supervision, in the manner mentioned in the first sub-paragraph of Article 16(6) of the Commission Regulation; or

(b)to ensure that it is exported to a third country.

(10) This paragraph shall apply to-

(a)a batch of frozen or quick-frozen chickens that is deemed, after counter-analysis, not to comply with Article 15(1) of the Commission Regulation;

(b)an imported batch of frozen or quick-frozen chickens that is found not to comply with Article 15(1) of the Commission Regulation;

(c)a batch of fresh, frozen or quick-frozen poultry cuts that is deemed, after counter-analysis, not to comply with Article 20(1) of the Commission Regulation; and

(d)an imported batch of fresh, frozen or quick-frozen poultry cuts that is found not to comply with Article 20(1) of the Commission Regulation.

(11) O shall not exercise any power under this regulation, or give a direction under this regulation, except on the production, if so required, of a duly authenticated document showing O's authority.

(12) O may carry out an inspection at the request of another member State or the European Commission.

(13) In this regulation "live poultry" has the meaning given to it in Part XX of Annex I to the Single CMO Regulation.

Procedure on seizure

14.-(1) An authorised officer ("O") shall follow the procedures set out in this regulation if O seizes anything under regulation 13(4), (5) or (6).

(2) O shall give to the person appearing to O to be in charge of the premises from which the item or computer equipment was seized ("the premises") a notice that shall state-

(a)what O has seized;

(b)when O seized it;

(c)the grounds for the seizure of the item or equipment; and

(d)the address to which, and the period during which, a claim may be made for the return of the item or equipment.

(3) Where the premises are unoccupied, or no-one appears to O to be in charge of the premises, O shall attach a notice to a conspicuous part of the premises containing the information mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) of paragraph (2).

(4) A person having a proprietary interest in the seized item or computer equipment (including a creditor who has a debt secured on the item or equipment) may notify O of any claim that the seized item, document or record, or equipment was not liable to seizure, setting out the grounds for the claim in full.

(5) The claim shall be made within 14 days of the seizure, beginning on the day on which the item or computer equipment was seized, to the address specified in the seizure notice.

(6) If a notification of a claim is not received within 14 days in respect of an item seized under regulation 13(4), the enforcement authority may retain the seized item for as long as necessary while it is being held for the purpose of any criminal investigation or proceedings or for use as evidence at a trial.

(7) If a notification of a claim is received within 14 days in respect of an item seized under regulation 13(4), the enforcement authority shall-

(a)return the seized item within 7 days, beginning with the day on which the claim is received; or

(b)retain the seized item for as long as necessary while it is being held for the purpose of any criminal investigation or proceedings, or for use as evidence at a trial, but it shall notify the claimant that the seized item is being retained, and of the reason why it is being retained within 28 days, beginning with the day on which the claim is received.

(8) If a notification of a claim is not received within 14 days in respect of an item seized under regulation 12(5), the enforcement authority may-

(a)if a decision is taken by the enforcement authority not to destroy the seized item but to retain it for the purpose of any criminal investigation or proceedings, or for use as evidence at a trial, retain the seized item for as long as necessary for one of those purposes, but the enforcement authority shall-

(i)notify the relevant person that the seized item is being retained, and of the reason why it is being retained, within 14 days of the expiry of the claim period, beginning with the day after the claim period expires; or

(ii)where the enforcement authority does not know who the relevant person is, and this cannot be ascertained after reasonable enquiries have been made by the enforcement authority, attach a notice to a conspicuous part of the premises, or a conspicuous object on those premises, within 14 days of the expiry of the claim period, beginning with the day after the claim period expires, stating that the seized item is being retained, and the reason why it is being retained; or

(b)destroy the seized item within 14 days, beginning with the day after the 14 day claim period expires, but the enforcement authority shall-

(i)notify the relevant person that the seized item has been destroyed within 14 days of its destruction, beginning with the day on which the item is destroyed (or the last day of destruction where the destruction of the item takes place on more than one day); or

(ii)where the enforcement authority does not know who the relevant person is, and this cannot be ascertained after reasonable enquiries have been made by the enforcement authority, attach a notice to a conspicuous part of the premises, or to a conspicuous object on those premises, within 14 days of the destruction of the item, beginning with the day on which the item is destroyed (or the last day of destruction where the destruction of the item takes place on more than one day) stating that the seized item has been destroyed.

(9) In paragraph (8) the "relevant person" means-

(a)if the enforcement authority knows the identity of a person with a proprietary interest in the seized item, that person or (where the enforcement authority knows the identity of more than one person with a proprietary interest in the seized item) each of those persons; or

(b)if the enforcement authority does not know the identity of a person with a proprietary interest in the seized item, the person appearing to the enforcement authority to be in charge of the premises.

(10) In the case of any item destroyed under paragraph 8(b), the enforcement authority may recover the following costs as a debt from any person who had a proprietary interest in the item immediately before its destruction (apart from a creditor who has a debt secured on the item)-

(a)the costs of the removal and transport of the item from the premises to the place at which it is stored;

(b)the costs of the storage of the item for up to 14 days;

(c)any costs for the removal and transport of the item if it is moved from one place of storage to another place of storage;

(d)the costs of the transport of the item from the place of storage to the place of destruction; and

(e)the costs of the destruction of the item.

(11) If a notification of a claim is received within 14 days in respect of an item seized under regulation 12(5), the enforcement authority shall-

(a)return the seized item within 7 days, beginning with the day on which the claim is received;

(b)if a decision is taken by the enforcement authority not to destroy the seized item but to retain it for the purpose of any criminal investigation or proceedings or for use as evidence at a trial, retain the item for as long as necessary for one of those purposes but the enforcement authority shall notify the claimant that the seized item is being retained, and of the reason why it is being retained, within 7 days of the claim, beginning with the day on which the claim is received; or

(c)within 14 days of the claim, beginning with the day on which the claim is received, take proceedings ("regulation 13(11)(c) proceedings") in a magistrates' court for an order giving authority to destroy the item.

(12) In regulation 13(11)(c) proceedings the magistrates' court may-

(a)authorise the enforcement authority to destroy the seized item;

(b)authorise the enforcement authority to retain the item for the purpose of any criminal investigation or proceedings, or for use as evidence at a trial, for as long as necessary for one of those purposes; or

(c)require the enforcement authority to return the item to the claimant and impose a deadline by which this shall be done.

(13) If, in regulation 13(11)(c) proceedings, the magistrates' court authorises the enforcement authority to destroy the seized item, it may also make an order requiring the claimant (but not a claimant who is a creditor with a debt secured on the item) to pay such of the costs listed in paragraph (10) as the court may specify.

(14) Where a person with a proprietary interest in an item seized under regulation 12(5) does not intend to make a claim under paragraph (4), that person may notify the enforcement authority of this in writing, and the enforcement authority may (but does not have to) proceed in one of the ways specified in paragraph (8) without waiting for the 14 day claim period to expire upon receiving-

(a)written confirmation from that person that no-one else has a proprietary interest in that item (or that all those with a proprietary interest in the item are content for the enforcement authority to proceed without waiting for the 14 day claim period to expire); and

(b)a written indemnity from that person against any claim made by another person with a proprietary interest in the item arising as a consequence of the enforcement authority proceeding without waiting for the 14 day claim period to expire.

(15) If a notification of a claim is received within 14 days in the case of any computer equipment seized under regulation 13(6), the enforcement authority shall-

(a)return the seized computer equipment within 7 days of the claim, beginning with the day on which the claim is received, or, if shorter, within the remainder of the maximum 14 day period provided for in regulation 13(6); or

(b)take proceedings in a magistrates' court within 7 days of the claim, beginning with the day on which the claim is received unless there are 7 days or less remaining before the expiry of the maximum 14 day period provided for in regulation 13(6), for an order authorising the enforcement authority to retain the seized computer equipment for longer than the 14 day period specified in regulation 13(6).

(16) If, in the case of any computer equipment seized under regulation 13(6), the magistrates' court authorises the enforcement authority to retain the seized computer equipment, the court may impose conditions as to the basis on which the equipment may continue to be retained, including the imposition of a deadline by which the equipment shall be returned.

(17) The procedure in a magistrates' court under this regulation is by way of complaint and the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 shall apply to the proceedings.

Compliance notices

15.-(1) If an authorised officer has reasonable grounds for believing that any person is contravening, or has contravened-�

(a)a European poultrymeat provision; or

(b)regulation 4,

the authorised officer may, by notice (a "compliance notice"), require a person to take such steps (or steps at least equivalent to them), within such period as the authorised officer may specify, to secure that the contravention does not continue or recur.

(2) A compliance notice shall-

(a)state the authorised officer's grounds for the belief;

(b)specify the matter that constitutes the contravention of these Regulations;

(c)specify the activities that shall stop, or the measures that shall be taken in order to comply with these Regulations;

(d)state the period within which an activity shall stop, or measures specified in the notice or measures at least equivalent to them shall be taken;

(e)state the right of appeal to a magistrates' court conferred by regulation 15; and

(f)state the period within which such an appeal may be brought.

(3) It is an offence not to comply with a compliance notice.

Appeals against compliance notices

16.-(1) Any person who is aggrieved about a compliance notice may appeal against that notice to a magistrates' court.

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

(3) The period within which an appeal may be brought against a compliance notice shall be 28 days, beginning with the day on which the compliance notice is given.

(4) A magistrates' court may suspend a compliance notice pending an appeal.

Powers of a magistrates' court on appeal

17. On an appeal against a compliance notice, the magistrates' court may either cancel the compliance notice or confirm the notice with or without modification.

Publicity

18.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2) an enforcement authority may publicise the cases in which-

(a)items seized under regulation 12(5) have been destroyed;

(b)compliance notices are given by it;

in such manner as it sees fit.

(2) An enforcement authority shall not publicise a compliance notice given by it-

(a)until the time for appealing against the compliance notice has passed;

(b)during the period that any appeal against the compliance notice is ongoing; or

(c)where an appeal against the compliance notice is successful.

Obstruction

19. A person shall be guilty of an offence if that person-

(a)intentionally obstructs an authorised officer acting in the execution of these Regulations;

(b)fails without reasonable excuse to give to an authorised officer any assistance or information the officer may reasonably require for the performance of functions under these Regulations;

(c)fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a direction given under regulation 13(2), (8) or (9);

(d)fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a regulation 13(7) notice;

(e)intentionally furnishes any false or misleading information to an authorised officer; or

(f)fails without reasonable excuse to produce a document or record when required to do so by an authorised officer.

Criminal offences: penalty

20. A person guilty of an offence under regulation 3, 14(3), or 18, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Extended period for bringing prosecutions

21.-(1) Proceedings for an offence under these Regulations may be commenced within the period of 1 year from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to warrant the proceedings came to the prosecutor's knowledge.

(2) No such proceedings may be commenced by virtue of paragraph (1) more than 3 years after the commission of the offence.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation-

(a)a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which evidence sufficient in the prosecutor's opinion to warrant the proceedings came to the prosecutor's knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that fact; and

(b)a certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.

Offences by bodies corporate etc.

22.-(1) Where an offence committed by a body corporate (other than a limited liability partnership or a Scottish partnership) is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, an officer of the body corporate, or a person purporting to act in such a capacity, that officer or person (as well as the body corporate) is guilty of the offence and is liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member, and a person purporting to act in such a capacity, in connection with the member's functions of management as it applies to an officer of a body corporate.

(3) Where an offence committed by an unincorporated body (other than an unincorporated partnership) is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any officer, or a person purporting to act in such a capacity, that officer or person (as well as the unincorporated body) is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(4) Where an offence committed by a partnership (including a limited liability partnership and a Scottish partnership) is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of a partner, or a person purporting to act in such a capacity, the partner or person (as well as the partnership) is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(5) In this regulation "offence" means an offence under these Regulations.

Act or default of third person

23. Where the commission by one person ("A") of an offence under these Regulations is due to the act or default of another ("B"), B also commits the offence, and B may be charged with and convicted of the offence by virtue of this regulation whether or not proceedings are taken against A.

Defences

24.-(1) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under these Regulations to prove that that person took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.

(2) A may not rely on a defence that involves an allegation that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of B unless-

(a)at least 7 days before the hearing A has given to the prosecutor a notice in writing giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of B as was then in A's possession; or

(b)the court grants A leave.

Giving of notices

25.-(1) Any notice required to be given under these Regulations to any person must be given to that person by-

(a)delivering it to that person;

(b)leaving it at that person's proper address;

(c)sending it to that person by post at that address; or

(d)subject to paragraph (9), sending it to that person by an electronic communication.

(2) The notice may be given to a body corporate by being given to an officer of that body.

(3) The notice may be given to a limited liability partnership, Scottish partnership or unincorporated partnership by being given to a partner or a person having the control or management of the partnership business.

(4) The notice may be given to any other unincorporated body by being given to an officer of the unincorporated body.

(5) For the purposes of this regulation and section 24 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (Service of documents) in its application to this regulation, the proper address of any person to whom a notice is to be given is-

(a)in the case of a body corporate, the address of the registered or principal office of the body;

(b)in the case of an unincorporated partnership or any other unincorporated body, the address of the principal office of the partnership or body;

(c)in the case of a person to whom the notice is given in reliance on paragraph (2), (3) or (4), the proper address of the body corporate, partnership or other unincorporated body in question; and

(d)in any other case, the last known address of the person in question.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5) the references to the "principal office" in relation to a company which is registered outside the United Kingdom, a partnership which is carrying on business outside the United Kingdom or any other unincorporated body which has its principal office outside the United Kingdom, include a reference, in each case, to that body's principal office within the United Kingdom (if any).

(7) Paragraph (8) applies if a person to be given a notice under these Regulations has specified an address ("the specified address") within the United Kingdom other than the person's proper address (as decided under paragraph (5)) as the one at which that person, or someone on that person's behalf, will accept documents of the same description as a notice given under these Regulations.

(8) The specified address is also to be treated for the purposes of this regulation and section 24 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 in its application to this regulation as the person's proper address.

(9) If a notice under these Regulations to be given to a person is sent by an enforcement authority by electronic communication, it is to be treated as given only if-

(a)the person to whom the notice is given has indicated a willingness to the enforcement authority to receive notices by an electronic communication and provided an address suitable for that purpose; and

(b)the notice is sent to the address provided by that person.

(10) In this regulation-

"body corporate" does not include a limited liability partnership or a Scottish partnership; and

"electronic communication" has the same meaning as in section 4(1) of the Electronic Communications Act (Northern Ireland) 2001(11).

Application of various provisions of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991

26.-(1) The following provisions of the Order shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations with the modifications specified in paragraph (2)-

(a)Article 4 (presumptions that food intended for human consumption);

(b)Article 29 (procurement of samples);

(c)Article 30(8) (documentary evidence); and

(d)Article 45 (expenses of authorised officers);

(2) The modifications are-

(a)construe any reference in the provisions specified in paragraph (1) to the Order (or a Part of the Order) as a reference to these Regulations;

(b)construe the references in Articles 29 and 45 of the Order to an authorised officer and the reference in Article 30 to an authorised officer of a district council as a reference to an authorised officer as defined in regulation 2(1);

(c)in relation to Article 29-

(i)in paragraph (b)(ii), construe the reference to Article 33 as a reference to these Regulations; and

(ii)in sub-paragraph (d), omit the words "or of regulations or orders made under it";

(d)in relation to Article 30(8)(a), omit the words "under paragraph (6)".

Consequential amendment

27. In the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991(12) in Schedule 1 (provisions to which those Regulations do not apply), for the title and reference to the Poultry Meat (Water Content) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982(13) there shall be substituted the title and reference to these Regulations.

Revocations

28. The following shall be revoked-

(a)The Poultry Meat (Water Content) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982;

(b)In the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (Consequential Modifications) Order (Northern Ireland) 1991(14)-�

(i)Article 7; and

(ii)in Schedules 1 and 4, the references to the Poultry Meat (Water Content) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982.

Regulation 2(1)

SCHEDULE 1EUROPEAN POULTRYMEAT PROVISIONS CONTRAVENTION OF WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ISSUING OF A COMPLIANCE NOTICE

PART 1PROVISIONS OF THE SINGLE CMO REGULATION

PART 2PROVISIONS OF THE COMMISSION REGULATION

Regulation 3

SCHEDULE 2PROVISIONS OF THE COMMISSION REGULATION, CONTRAVENTION OF WHICH IS AN OFFENCE

Regulation 8(3)

SCHEDULE 3FEES FOR WATER CONTENT CHECKS

29. In this Schedule-

"Article 16(1) water content check" means a check of the type mentioned in the first sub-paragraph of Article 16(1) of the Commission Regulation;

"Article 16(2) water content check" means a check of the type mentioned in Article 16(2) of the Commission Regulation;

"Article 16(3) water content check" means a check of the type mentioned in the second sub-paragraph of Article 16(3) of the Commission Regulation;

"Article 20(2) water content check" means a check of the type mentioned in paragraph (a) of the first sub-paragraph of Article 20(2) of the Commission Regulation;

"Article 20(3) water content check" means a check of the type mentioned in Article 20(3) of the Commission Regulation; and

"Article 20(4) water content check" means a check of the type mentioned in second sub-paragraph of Article 16(3) of the Commission Regulation, as applying to poultry cuts by virtue of Article 20(4) of that Regulation.

30. The following table sets out the fees payable in respect of water content checks carried out by the Department-

31. All fees payable under this Schedule shall be payable to the Department within 28 days of the Department giving an operator an invoice demanding the payment of the fee, beginning with the day on which the invoice is received.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision for the enforcement and execution of directly applicable European marketing standards relating to poultrymeat.

These Regulations revoke the Poultry Meat (Water Content) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982 (S.R. 1982 No. 386).

They make the failure to comply with the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008 (O.J. No. L 157, 17.6.2008, p. 46) mentioned in Schedule 2 (provisions relating to the marketing of poultrymeat) an offence (regulation 4 and Schedule 2).

They make provision in relation to the registration of slaughterhouses and producers as required by Article 12 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008 (regulation 5) and provide for appeals against a decision to refuse such a registration and a decision to cancel such a registration (regulations 6 and 7).

They provide for the payment of fees in relation to water content checks carried out by the Department (regulation 8 and Schedule 3).

They provide for enforcement (regulations 9 and 10). They confer powers of entry (regulation 11) and other powers (regulation 12), including seizure and destruction powers.

They make the failure to comply with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) (O.J. No. L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1) and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008 mentioned in Schedule 1 a matter for which a compliance notice may be issued (regulation 14) and provide for appeals against compliance notices (regulations 15 and 16). Failure to comply with a compliance notice is an offence.

They make obstruction of an authorised officer an offence (regulation 18).

Offences under the Regulations are punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (regulation 19).