General principles
Article 98
1. Without prejudice to provisions contained in multi-annual plans, competent authorities of Member States shall adopt a risk based approach for the selection of targets for inspection, using all available information. In accordance with this approach, officials shall carry out inspections in accordance with rules laid down in this Chapter. 2. Without prejudice to provisions contained in multi-annual plans, Member States shall coordinate their control, inspection and enforcement activities. To this end, they shall adopt and execute national control action programmes as referred to in Article 46 of the Control Regulation and common control programmes as referred to in Article 94 of the Control Regulation covering both activities at sea and on land as necessary to ensure compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy. 3. Subject to a risk based control and enforcement strategy each Member State shall carry out the necessary inspection activities in an objective way in order to prevent the retention on board, transhipment, landing, transfer to cages and farms, processing, transport, storage, marketing and stocking of fishery products originating from activities that are not in compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy. 4. Inspections shall be carried out in a manner as to prevent to the extent possible any negative impact on the hygiene and quality of the fisheries products inspected. 5. Member States shall ensure that national fisheries related information systems allow for the direct electronic exchange of information on port state inspections between themselves, other Member States, the Commission and the body designated by it as appropriate, in accordance with Article 111 of the Control Regulation.