(38)To ensure that the Union agri-food chain legislation is correctly enforced, the competent authorities should have the power to perform official controls at all stages of production, processing and distribution of animals and goods concerned by that legislation. To ensure that official controls are thoroughly conducted and effective, the competent authorities should also have the power to perform official controls at all stages of production and distribution of goods, substances, materials or objects which are not governed by Union agri-food chain legislation insofar as it is necessary to fully investigate possible infringements of that legislation and to identify the cause of any such infringement. In order to perform those official controls efficiently, competent authorities should draw up and maintain a list or register of the operators to be controlled.