36Powers of authorised officers

36 Powers of authorised officers

(1)  For the purposes of this Act, an authorised officer may, at any reasonable time, do any one or more of the following:

(a) alone, or with such police officers or other persons as the authorised officer considers necessary, enter and inspect any premises or vehicle that the authorised officer reasonably believes are used in connection with any primary production activity;

(b) alone, or with such police officers or other persons as the authorised officer considers necessary, enter and inspect any premises or vehicle in which the authorised officer reasonably believes there are any records or documents that relate to any primary production activity;

(c) examine any primary produce intended for supply;

(d) open and examine any package that the authorised officer reasonably believes contains any primary produce intended for supply;

(e) open and examine any equipment;

(f) for the purpose of analysing any primary produce supplied or intended for supply or for carrying out any other examination in order to determine whether the provisions of this Act are being complied with, demand, select and obtain samples of any primary produce;

(g) for the purpose of analysis, take samples of water, soil, biological material, chemicals, waste products or any other thing that is part of the environment in which any primary produce is produced or handled, or is connected to the production, storage or transport of primary produce, to determine whether that environment poses a risk to the safety of the primary produce for human or pet consumption;

(h) take samples of anything, other than for the purpose of analysis, that the authorised officer reasonably believes may be used as evidence that an offence has been, or is being, committed under this Act;

(i) seize and retain any primary produce, or issue a seizure order in respect of any primary produce –

(i) if the authorised officer reasonably suspects that the produce may be unsafe for human consumption or unsuitable for human consumption; or

(ii) in order to prevent the produce being processed before it can be determined to be safe for human consumption and suitable for human consumption;