The Dairy Industry (Compliance Officer) Regulations

Section 1. Citation Section These Regulations may be cited as the Dairy Industry (Compliance Officer) Regulations.

Section 2. Interpretation Section In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires— "Act" means the Dairy Industry Act ( Cap 336 ); "Board" means the Kenya Dairy Board; "Cabinet Secretary" means the Cabinet Secretary for the time being responsible for matters relating to dairy industry; "Compliance Officer" means an officer appointed by the Board under the Dairy Industry (Compliance Officers) Regulations, 2021; "County Executive Committee member" means the relevant County executive Committee member for the time being responsible for matters of dairy industry.

Section 3. Application Section These Regulations shall apply to all compliance officer and all aspects of inspection in the dairy industry.

Section 4. Objects of the Regulations Section to provide mechanisms for inspection of primary producers and dairy business operators;

Section 5. Appointment of compliance officers Section 5(1) The Board shall appoint such compliance officer as may be necessary for purposes of monitoring of primary dairy products and dairy business operators. The appointment of the compliance officers shall be by notice in the Gazette . Section 5(2) Where a need arises, and no conflict of interest exists, the Board may request the County Executive Committee member to nominate qualified staff of the County government for gazettement by the Board as a compliance officer. Section 5(3) The Board shall, upon receiving the nominees from the County Government vet the nominee for suitability and shall, if found suitable, gazette the officer. Section 5(4) The compliance officer nominated by a County shall report on day today matters to the relevant officer of the County Executive Committee member, and where the report involves dairy produce safety matters, the compliance officer shall report to the Board and to the County Executive Committee member. Section 5(5) In dealing with dairy produce safety matters compliance officer nominated by the county shall act under the supervision of an assigned Boards supervisor. Section 5(6) The Board sha...

Section 6. Qualifications of compliance officers Section holds a diploma or other higher qualification in dairy, animal or food science, public health, veterinary science or any other related fields;

Section 7. Revocation of appointment Section 7(2) A revocation shall not be effected unless the officer affected has been given an opportunity to respond to accusation made against him or her. Section 7(3) A compliance officer whose appointment has been revoked may appeal to the Board within thirty days of being notified of the revocation.

Section 8. Identification of a compliance officer Section 8(1) The Board shall issue to every compliance officer an identity document, authenticated by an authorized officer, which the compliance officer shall produce before performing the inspection duties of any goods or premises, or performing any other functions under these Regulations. Section 8(2) The Board shall ensure that there is an accessible mechanism for a person to verify the identity or particulars of a compliance officer while undertaking duties in the field or otherwise. Section 8(3)(a) at all times secured and avoid its unauthorized use; Section 8(3)(b) legible and clear for proper identification and when lost, defaced or destroyed, to be reported and replaced immediately; Section 8(3)(c) and shall returned to the Board upon the compliance officer ceasing to be employed as such.

Section 9. Powers of a compliance officer Section 9(1)(a) at any reasonable time, enter premises whether, plant, facility, structure, place or area in connection with which he or she has reason to believe that an offence under this regulation is being, is about to or has been committed, in order to investigate and obtain evidence; Section 9(1)(b) examine or test or cause to be examined or tested, any dairy produce to which the Act or the Regulations apply and which is found in or at such premises, plant, facility, structure, place or area; Section 9(1)(c) examine or test or cause to be examined or tested any equipment, material, substance or other article which is used or is suspected to be used or likely to be used at or in connection with the collection, evaluation, processing, packing or storing of any dairy produce; Section 9(1)(d) inspect the operations or process in connection with any action referred to in paragraph (c), and demand from the owner or the person in whose custody the dairy produce, equipment, material, substance or things concerned are, or who supervises such operations or processes, any information or explanation regarding the operation, process, material, sub...

Section 10. Inspection facilities, etc Section 10(1) A compliance officer may at any reasonable time, inspect any farm, where dairy activity is being carried on or is about to be carried on in relation thereto, for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the Act or the Regulations. Section 10(2) Where a compliance officer has reason to believe that the dairy product, material, substance, equipment or other thing which is the subject of inspection under these Regulations, or any record or thing connected therewith, is in a dwelling house, the compliance officer shall request the owner, the occupant or the person who appears to be in charge thereof for permission to enter the house to conduct an inspection. Section 10(3) Where the occupant neglects or delays to grant permission, the compliance officer may seek the assistance of the nearest police officer to facilitate a forced entry into the business premise and the owner, the occupant or the person who appears to be in charge of the house or premises shall cooperate with the compliance officer until the inspection is concluded.

Section 11. Collection of books, records, documents, Etc Section 11(1) A compliance officer shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to afford a primary producer or dairy business operator of anything or other person who appears to be engaged in dairy production of business, that is the subject of inspection under these Regulations, an opportunity to be present during the inspection and the primary producer or dairy business operator, assignee or agent shall have the right to put any relevant questions to the compliance officer and the compliance officer shall be obligated to answer unless the questions are calculated to, in any way, defeat the inspection. Section 11(2) Where, in the process of inspection, the compliance officer takes any copy or extract of book, record, document, material or other thing, the officer shall issue to the person from whom custody any book, record, document, material or any other thing has been taken a confiscation receipt in Form B in the Schedule, and the recipient of the receipt shall sign the duplicate thereof except where the original document are required as evidence of possible prosecution for an offence under the Act or regulations....

Section 12. Collection of samples and information Section 12(1)(a) at no cost; Section 12(1)(b) with such care as not to prejudice the results and in the best opinion of the compliance officer that the sample is representative of the whole; and Section 12(1)(c) in accordance with the method of sampling prescribed in the relevant standard in the presence of the primary producer, the dairy business operator or their representatives and, in their absence, the compliance officer shall take the sample and record the circumstances under which the sample is taken. Section 12(2) A primary producer or dairy business operator or their representatives shall give the compliance officer all reasonable assistance as the compliance officer may require, including the actual taking of samples, to enable carrying out of duties under these Regulations and shall provide the compliance officer with any relevant information which may be required. Section 12(3) In the course of the performance of duties under these regulations, the compliance officer may put any relevant question to a dairy business operator assignee, agent or other person, but no person shall be compelled to give an answer that will inc...

Section 13. Seizure and destruction Section 13(1) In consultation with the supervisor, a compliance officer may at any time seize, any product, material, substance, article, plant and machinery, or any other thing which he has reason to believe or about which he has received credible information to the effect that it has been used or is likely to be used in contravention of any of the provisions of the Act or these Regulations. Section 13(2) Where a compliance officer seizes any dairy produce, equipment, materials or additives, the compliance officer shall issue a seizure receipt to the primary producer or dairy business operator with the details of the dairy produce confiscated in Form A of the First Schedule. Section 13(3) A compliance officer carrying out seizure shall file a complaint without delay at the nearest police station for possible prosecution, with or without the owner or a representative consent in writing on the destruction or forfeiture of the subject dairy produce, equipment, materials or additives to the Board. Section 13(4) Any destruction pursuant to these Regulations shall be carried out in compliance with the relevant law and regulations. Section 13(5) Where...

Section 14. Protection of information Section The information or document obtained under these Regulations shall be handled in accordance with any relevant provision of the Data Protection Act (Cap. 411C).

Section 15. Offences Section 15(1)(a) solicits for, or receives in connection with any of his duties, a payment or other reward whatsoever, whether pecuniary or otherwise, or a promise or security for any such payment or reward whether or not he is entitled to claim; Section 15(1)(b) enters into any agreement to do, abstain from doing, permit, conceal or connive at any act whereby the Board is or may be defrauded, or which is contrary to any of the provisions of these Regulations or contrary to the power conferred to the compliance officer; Section 15(1)(c) discloses, except for the purposes of these regulations or when required to do so as a witness in a court of law or with the approval of the Board, information acquired by him in the performance of his duties relating to a person, premises, place, material, substance or thing being or already inspected, or Section 15(1)(d) uses his or her position to enrich himself or herself or any other person, Section 15(2)(a) in any manner or style, wilfully obstructs, impedes or hinders a compliance officer, or a police officer accompanying the compliance officer, from exercising any of his powers or performing duties under these regulation...

Section 16. Complaints against compliance officers Section 16(1) Where a primary producer or a dairy business operator is aggrieved by a decision or action of a compliance officer, the primary producer or dairy business operator may immediately, and in any case not later than fourteen days, lodge a written complaint to the Board. Section 16(2) Upon receipt of a complaint the Board shall investigate and make a decision and communicate to the complainant within thirty days. Section 16(3) Where the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the Board, the complainant may appeal to the Cabinet Secretary within thirty days of the decision.

Section 17. Revocation of LN No. 215/1964 Sub Leg Section The Dairy Industry (Dairy Inspector) Regulations, 1964 are hereby revoked.