s 12 Powers ancillary to inspections and searches
12.—(1) For the purpose of carrying out an inspection under section 9 or a search under section 11, an authorised officer may stop a conveyance or direct that it be moved to a place where the inspection or search may be carried out. (2) Any item (including any sample thereof) taken under section 9, or any animal, plant or item seized under section 11(3), may be kept or stored in the premises or conveyance where it was taken or seized (as the case may be) or may, at the direction of the Director‑General or an authorised officer, be removed to any other place to be kept or stored thereat.[Act 21 of 2022 wef 01/11/2022] (3) The Director‑General or an authorised officer may subject any animal, plant or item referred to in subsection (2) to such examination or analysis as the Director‑General or authorised officer may consider necessary for the purposes of the administration of this Act. (4) No compensation is payable in respect of any animal, plant or item which is damaged or otherwise destroyed by virtue of any examination or analysis under subsection (3), unless the damage or destruction is directly attributable to the negligence or default of the Director‑General or the authorised officer. (5) The Director‑General or an authorised officer may mark, seal or label any animal, plant or item referred to in subsection (2) in any manner that the Director‑General or authorised officer thinks fit and may lock or seal the premises, conveyance or other place in which it is being kept or stored. (6) Any person who, without the authority of the Director‑General or an authorised officer —(a) interferes or tampers with, removes, distributes, sells or otherwise disposes of any animal, plant or item referred to in subsection (2); (b) opens, breaks or otherwise tampers with the lock or seal placed by the Director‑General or an authorised officer on any premises or conveyance or part thereof under subsection (5); or (c) alters, counterfeits, defaces, destroys, erases or removes any mark, seal or label placed by the Director‑General or an authorised officer on any animal, plant or item under subsection (5), shall be guilty of an offence.