Livestock and Meat Commission (Levy) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations replace the Livestock Marketing Commission (Levy) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1969 which impose a levy to be collected by or on behalf of the Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (“the Commission”) in respect of sheep and bovine animals slaughtered in or sent out of Northern Ireland. They also supersede the Livestock and Meat Commission (Levy) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 which are defective.

The Regulations provide for the imposition of a levy on the owner or occupier of the premises where the animal is slaughtered. In such cases the levy is £1 for a bovine animal and 10p for a sheep (regulation 2).

The Regulations increase the levies imposed on the owner of the animal which is slaughtered and the owner of any animal immediately before it is sent out of Northern Ireland. In these cases the levy for a bovine animal has increased from 80p to £1 and for a sheep from 8p to 20p (regulation 2).

The Regulations provide that no levy is payable in respect of any animal imported into Northern Ireland and which, within two days from the time it is imported, is sent out of Northern Ireland (regulation 3).

The Regulations enable the Commission to authorise the owners/occupiers of licensed slaughterhouses to collect levy from the owners of animals slaughtered in his premises on its behalf and provide for returns to the Commission at the end of each calendar month. They provide that the Livestock and Meat Commission may pay to persons authorised to collect levy on its behalf any reasonable costs incurred in connection with the collection of levies (regulation 4).

The Regulations provide powers to: –

(i) stop and inspect livestock and vehicles carrying livestock;

(ii) require the name and address (and authentication of same) of any person who has any livestock in his custody, charge or possession; and

(iii) require any person who has any livestock in his custody, charge or possession to state the name of the owner, if that person is not the owner (regulation 5).

The Regulations prescribe offences and penalties applicable where a person is found to be in contravention of the Regulations (regulation 6).

The Regulations revoke the Livestock Marketing Commission (Levy) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1969, the Livestock Marketing Commission (Levy) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 and the Livestock and Meat Commission (Levy) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (regulation 7).