S.L. 437.58 Art. 13Illegal treatment.

The competent authority shall:

(a) where illegal treatment is suspected, ask the owner or person having charge of the animals or the veterinarian in charge of the farm to provide any documentation justifying the nature of the treatment;

(b) where this inquiry confirms illegal treatment or where unauthorized substances or products have been used, or where there are grounds for suspecting their use, conduct or have conducted:

(i) spot checks on animals on their farms of origin or departure, in particular with a view to detecting such use and in particular any traces of implants; these checks may include official sampling;

(ii) checks to detect substances the use of which is prohibited or of unauthorized substances or products on the farms where the animals are being reared, kept or fattened (including holdings administratively connected with such farms) or on the animals’ farms of origin or departure. Official samples of drinking water and feedingstuffs are necessary for that purpose;

(iii) spot checks on animals’ feedingstuffs on their farms of origin or departure, and on their drinking water or - for aquaculture animals - from the waters in which they are caught,

(iv) the checks provided for in rule 11(1)(a);

(v) any check required to clarify the origin of the unauthorized substances or products or that of the treated animals;

(c) where the maximum levels laid down by Community rules or, pending such legislation, the levels set by national legislation have been exceeded, carry out any measure or investigation which it may deem appropriate in relation to the finding in question.