The Dairy Produce Quotas (Amendment) Regulations 2006

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which come into force on 31^st March 2006, amend the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/465) (“the 2005 Regulations”).

The 2005 Regulations implement Council Regulation (EC) No. 1788/2003 establishing a levy in the milk and milk products sector (OJ No. L 279, 21.10.2003, p.123) and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 595/2004 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No. 1788/2003 establishing a levy in the milk and milk products sector (OJ No. L 94, 31.3.2004, p. 22) (“the Commission Regulation”).

Regulation 3 corrects an error in regulation 16 of the 2005 Regulations preventing the transfer of quota necessary to cover production taking place before the date of transfer. The amendment provides that such quota may be transferred, but cannot be identified as unused quota.

Regulations 4 to 6 amend provisions requiring dairy producers and purchasers to provide information to the Secretary of State by a specified date. The requirement is that the information is sent to the Secretary of State on or before that date.

Regulation 7 corrects an omission in regulation 36 of the 2005 Regulations to penalise purchasers who send inaccurate summaries of production required to be submitted under Article 8(2) of the Commission Regulation. It also provides that the penalty for purchasers who fail to submit a summary as required by Article 8(4) of the Commission Regulation before 1^st July in the year in which it is required applies 30 days after the service of a notice by the Secretary of State to this effect.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business, charities or voluntary bodies.