Section 14
The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Council, by notice in the Gazette, prohibit any activity
involving genetically modified organisms.
Inspectors
Section 15
(1)
The registrar may appoint any officer, or with the approval of the Minister, any person who is not an
officer, as an inspector to exercise and perform the functions referred to in subsection (4) and in section 16.
(2)
Every inspector shall be furnished with a certificate signed by the registrar stating that he or she has
been appointed as inspector under this Act.
(3)
An inspector shall, at the request of any person affected by the exercise or performance of a function
by such an inspector, exhibit the certificate referred to in subsection (2) to such a person.
(4)
An inspector may, on the authority of a warrant issued in terms of subsection (5), conduct an
investigation to determine whether the provisions of this Act are being or have been complied with, and
may, for that purpose during normal office hours and without giving prior notice, enter any place or facility
in respect of which he or she has reason to believe that a contravention of the provisions of this Act is taking
place(a)
to inspect any activity or process carried out in or upon such place or facility in connection
with any activities referred to in this Act;
(b)
to request any information regarding such an activity or process from the owner or person in
charge of such place or facility or from any person carrying out or in charge of the carrying out of such
activities;
(c)
to seize any appliance, book, statement or document and take samples of material or substances
which appear to provide proof of a contravention of any provision of this Act: and
(d)
to give notice to the owner of any material, substance, appliance, book, statement or document seized
under paragraph (c) or to the person who had control over it immediately before any seizure under
subparagraph (c) to remove the seized items at such person's own cost within a period and to a place
specified in such notice.
(5)(a) A warrant referred to in subsection (4) shall be issued by a magistrate who has jurisdiction in the area
in which the place or facility in question is situated, and shall only be issued if it appears from information
on oath that there are reasonable grounds to believe that any material. Substance, appliance, book, statement
or document that may relate to a contravention of this Act, is upon or in such place or facility.
(b)
A warrant issued in terms of this section shall be executed with strict regard to decency and order.
(6)(a) If no criminal proceedings are instituted in connection with any item referred to in subsection (5)(a),
seized in terms of subsection (4), or if it appears that such item is not required at any trial for the purpose of