The Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993

Actions which may be taken by an inspector

23.—(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 22, and subject to Article 28, if an inspector has reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is present or likely to be present on any premises—

(a) a plant pest of a description specified in Part A of Schedule 1 or 2 or, where appropriate, Part B of Schedule 1 or 2;

(b) any plant pest not normally present in Great Britain and in respect of which there is in the opinion of an inspector an imminent danger of its spreading or being spread in Great Britain;

(c) any plant, plant product, or other object, which is carrying or infected with, or which may be carrying or infected with, a plant pest referred to in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of this Article,

he may after giving the occupier or other person in charge of the premises reasonable notice of his intention and upon production if so required of his authority enter such premises and either on those premises or elsewhere take steps—

(i) to destroy or treat in some other way any plant, plant product, or other object referred to in sub-paragraph (c) of this article;

(ii) to destroy any plant pest referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of this paragraph and to prevent the spread of any such plant pest.

(2) An inspector on entering any premises under paragraph (1) of this article may take with him such other persons including, but not limited to, representatives of the European Commission, and such equipment and vehicles as are necessary for the purpose of facilitating the exercise of his powers under that paragraph, and such other persons whether or not accompanied by the inspector, upon production if so required of their authority given in that behalf by an inspector, may remain on the land and from time to time re-enter with such equipment and vehicles as aforesaid, and carry out such work for the purposes aforesaid and in such manner as the inspector may direct.