EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations make provision for the enforcement and execution of directly applicable European marketing standards relating to poultrymeat.
These Regulations revoke the Poultry Meat (Water Content) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982 (S.R. 1982 No. 386).
They make the failure to comply with the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008 (O.J. No. L 157, 17.6.2008, p. 46) mentioned in Schedule 2 (provisions relating to the marketing of poultrymeat) an offence (regulation 3 and Schedule 2).
They make provision in relation to the registration of slaughterhouses and producers as required by Article 12 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008 (regulation 5) and provide for appeals against a decision to refuse such a registration and a decision to cancel such a registration (regulations 6 and 7).
They provide for the payment of fees in relation to water content checks carried out by the Department (regulation 8 and Schedule 3).
They provide for enforcement (regulations 9 and 10). They confer powers of entry (regulation 11) and other powers (regulation 12), including seizure and destruction powers.
They make the failure to comply with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) (O.J. No. L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1) and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008 mentioned in Schedule 1 a matter for which a compliance notice may be issued (regulation 14) and provide for appeals against compliance notices (regulations 15 and 16). Failure to comply with a compliance notice is an offence.
They make obstruction of an authorised officer an offence (regulation 18).
Offences under the Regulations are punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (regulation 19).