controlled substances: powers of inspector

authorised inspectors may enter hospital premises to ensure compliance with the regulations, and may for that purpose do several things, including opening boxes containing controlled substances, using computers containing data related to the controlled substances, take advertising material, make copies of stuff, and seize controlled substances. (source: section 38(1) controlled drug and substances act)

section 38(1) of the controlled drug and substances act states the following:

31. (1) subject to subsection (2), an inspector may, to ensure compliance with the regulations, at any reasonable time enter any place the inspector believes on reasonable grounds is used for the purpose of conducting the business or professional practice of any person licensed or otherwise authorized under the regulations to deal in a controlled substance or a precursor and may for that purpose

(a) open and examine any receptacle or package found in that place in which a controlled substance or a precursor may be found;

(b) examine any thing found in that place that is used or may be capable of being used for the production, preservation, packaging or storage of a controlled substance or a precursor;

(c) examine any labels or advertising material or records, books, electronic data or other documents found in that place with respect to any controlled substance or precursor, other than the records of the medical condition of persons, and make copies thereof or take extracts therefrom;

(d) use or cause to be used any computer system at that place to examine any electronic data referred to in paragraph (c);

(e) reproduce any document from any electronic data referred to in paragraph (c) or cause it to be reproduced, in the form of a printout or other output;

(f) take the labels or advertising material or records, books or other documents referred to in paragraph (c) or the printout or other output referred to in paragraph (e) for examination or copying;

(g) use or cause to be used any copying equipment at that place to make copies of any document;

(h) examine any substance found in that place and take, for the purpose of analysis, such samples thereof as are reasonably required; and

(i) seize and detain in accordance with this part, any controlled substance or precursor the seizure and detention of which the inspector believes on reasonable grounds is necessary.