The Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Wales) (No. 14) Regulations 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which apply to Wales, implement the Commission Decision of 19th December 2001 (2001/911/EC) (amending for the fourth time Decision 2001/740/EC concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom (OJ No. L337, 20.12.2001, p. 39)). In particular, they further enlarge the area from which the dispatch of certain meats is authorised and permit the export of live pigs from specified counties. They revoke and replace the Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Wales) (No. 13) Regulations 2001 (S. I. 2001/4009 (W.335)).

They regulate—

• · the importation of live animals (regulation 4 and Schedules 1 and 2)

• · the export of live animals (regulation 5)

• · the export of fresh meat (including minced meat and meat preparations) from bovine, ovine caprine and porcine animals, and provide that meat from porcine animals from certain counties (including animals raised in some counties in Scotland and England) can be exported subject to conditions (regulation 6 and Schedule 2)

• · the export of meat products, milk, and milk products (regulations 7, 8 and 9)

• · the export of semen, ova or embryos of animals of the bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine species and other biungulates (regulation 10), hides and skins (regulation 11) and various animal products (regulation 12)

• · the export of equidae (regulation 16).

They create an offence of offering to export anything which it is prohibited to export under the Regulations (regulation 17).

They provide powers for enforcement, and powers for officers of HM Customs and Excise (regulations 18, 19, 20 and 21) and create an offence of obstruction (regulation 23).

Breach of the Regulations is an offence. In the case of obstruction, the maximum penalty on summary conviction is a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both. A person guilty of any other offence under these Regulations is liable

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment not exceeding three months or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

The Regulations are enforced by the Secretary of State or the local authority (regulation 28).

A regulatory appraisal has not been prepared for these Regulations.

These Regulations come into force on 20th December 2001 at 5.p.m. and apply until midnight on 28th February 2002.