Powers of authorised officers
12.—(1)  An authorised officer may at any time —
(a)enter and inspect any premises or stop, detain, board or inspect any conveyance where he has reason to believe that such premises or conveyance has been used or is being used in connection with the importation of pests, plants, plant products or any of the other materials specified in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Schedules;
(b)inspect any consignment of plants and plant products which has been imported into Singapore including their packaging and take such samples thereof as may reasonably be necessary for analysis and evaluation;
(c)open and examine any container, package or receptacle which —
(i)contains or which the authorised officer reasonably believes to contain; or
(ii)has been used or is being used or which the authorised officer reasonably believes to have been used or to be being used in connection with the importation into Singapore of,
any pests, plants, plant products or any of the other materials specified in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Schedules;
(d)prohibit entirely or to such extent as he thinks fit, the movement of any conveyance containing or consignment of, plants, plant products or any of the other materials specified in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Scheduleswhich has arrived but which has not yet entered Singapore;
(e)direct that any conveyance containing or consignment of, plants or plant products imported into Singapore be detained or quarantined for such a period as he thinks fit at such place and in such manner as may be determined by the Director;
(f)direct that any conveyance containing or consignment of, plants or plant products imported into Singapore be subject to treatment at such place and in such manner as may be determined by the Director for the purpose of destroying any pests infesting the plants or plant products;
(g)direct the importer or owner of any consignment of plants or plant products which is found to be pest infested or to have been imported in contravention of these Rules to at his own expense destroy the consignment in such manner as may be determined by the Director or immediately export the consignment;
(h)where the importer or owner of any consignment of plants or plant products has failed to destroy or immediately export the consignment as directed under paragraph (g), destroy the consignment in such manner as may be determined by the Director and recover the expenses incurred for the destruction from the importer or owner of the consignment;
(i)seize any pests, plants, plant products or any of the other materials which have been imported or which are being kept in contravention of these Rules; and
(j)do such other act or thing as may be reasonable or necessary for the purpose of carrying out his duties under these Rules.
(2)  Any person who wilfully obstructs or impedes an authorised officer in the exercise of his powers under these Rules, or acts in contravention of the terms and conditions imposed by an authorised officer shall be guilty of an offence.