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Animal Products Act 1999

Offences, penalties, and proceedings - Offences

133: Obstruction of officers, etc

You could also call this:

"Don't interfere with or pretend to be animal product officers, or you can get in trouble with the law."

If you threaten or hurt an animal product officer, you can get in trouble. You can also get in trouble if you stop them from doing their job. This includes helpers and people from recognised agencies, like those under the Food Act 2014.

If you pretend to be an animal product officer to trick people, you can get in trouble. This is against the law and you can be punished. You might have to pay a fine or even go to jail.

If you break this law, you can be punished in different ways. A company can be fined up to $250,000. An individual can be jailed for up to 3 months and fined up to $50,000.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM35747.

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Part 10Offences, penalties, and proceedings
Offences

133Obstruction of officers, etc

  1. A person commits an offence against this Act who threatens, assaults, or intentionally obstructs or hinders—

  2. any animal product officer, official assessor, or verifier; or
    1. an assistant of such a person; or
      1. any recognised agency, recognised person, or other authorised person (including a person having functions or powers under the Food Act 2014),—
          1. who is acting in the exercise or performance of a function, power, or duty under this Act or under any risk management programme.

        1. A person commits an offence against this Act who, with intent to deceive, personates or pretends to be an animal product officer, an official assessor, or an agency or a person referred to in subsection (1)(c).

        2. A person who commits an offence against this section is liable,—

        3. for a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $250,000:
          1. for an individual, to—
            1. imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months; and
              1. a fine not exceeding $50,000.

              Notes
              • Section 133(1)(a): amended, on , by section 150(1) of the Food Safety Law Reform Act 2018 (2018 No 3).
              • Section 133(1)(c): amended, on , by section 447 of the Food Act 2014 (2014 No 32).
              • Section 133(1)(c): amended, on , by section 5(8) of the Animal Products Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 26).
              • Section 133(1)(c): amended, on , by section 5(10) of the Animal Products Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 29).
              • Section 133(2): amended, on , by section 150(2) of the Food Safety Law Reform Act 2018 (2018 No 3).
              • Section 133(3): replaced, on , by section 447 of the Food Act 2014 (2014 No 32).