The local inspector from the APHA PHSI will conduct the inspection to ensure that both the facilities and working practices are suitable to contain the material. Following the inspection, a report will be submitted to both Defra and APHA CIT, detailing the suitability of the quarantine station/confinement facilities and working practices. It may sometimes be necessary for further discussions between the local inspector, Defra and the applicant to address any issues raised at the site visit. Unacceptable working practices can be addressed, but problems with the facilities themselves may take more time and may require improvements be made to the quarantine station/confinement facility prior to the work beginning. If the appropriate changes cannot be made, the application will be rejected.
Compliance visits
Compliance visits are carried out by the PHSI to ensure that the facilities and working practices agreed are being maintained. The frequency of these is risk based, with invertebrate and pathogen scientific authorisations requiring annual compliance visits, potato and plant scientific authorisations requiring compliance visits every two years and soil (CPA and NCPA) scientific authorisations requiring compliance visits every three years.
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