5. Delegation by competent authority

The competent authority may delegate the exercise of all or any of the powers or duties of the competent authority under any provision of this Act or the regulations (except the power of delegation conferred by this section) to one or more authorised officers, and any reference in a provision of this Act or the regulations to the competent authority includes a reference to an authorised officer to whom the powers or duties under that provision have been delegated.

Any delegation under subsection (1) may be general or in a particular case and may be subject to such conditions or limitations as set out in this Act or as the competent authority may specify.

The competent authority may give an authorised officer directions of a general character, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as to the exercise of the powers and duties delegated to the authorised officer under this Act; and the authorised officer must give effect to those directions.