Instruments, orders and judgments: consequential provisions
12.—(1) Subject to the following paragraphs, any provision relating to a transferred function—
(a)in an instrument made before the coming into operation of these Regulations; or
(b)in a court order or judgment made or given before the coming into operation of these Regulations,
shall have effect, so far as may be necessary or expedient in preparation for, in connection with, or in consequence of the transfer of that function to the Agency, as if any references in that provision (including any references which are to be construed as such references) to, or to officers of, a Northern Ireland Department, were references to the Agency, or to its officers, as the context may require.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply—
(a)to any authorisation, licence or provisional licence issued for the purposes of the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 in operation at the coming into operation of these Regulations; or
(b)to any relevant designation after the expiry of the period of six months beginning at the coming into operation of these Regulations.
(3) Paragraph (1) shall apply to provisions of codes of practice issued under Article 39 of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 before the coming into operation of these Regulations but shall not apply so as to treat the authority by which the code was issued as altered.
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), a “relevant designation” is a designation of an official veterinary surgeon, in force at the coming into operation of these Regulations, under or for any purpose relating to—
(a)the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997;
(b)the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995; or
(c)the Wild Game Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997.