The Slaughter Premium (Wales) Regulations 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note does not form part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which come into force on 25th April 2001, lay down national implementing measures for the slaughter premium scheme for bovine animals introduced by Article 11 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1254/1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal (OJ No. L160, 26.6.1999, p.21). They provide for the administration of the scheme in relation to holdings situated wholly in Wales, and also holdings situated partly in Wales and partly elsewhere in the United Kingdom, where the National Assembly for Wales has agreed that the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce be responsible for processing the farmer’s claim for premium (regulations 3 to 11). They also provide for the enforcement of the scheme in relation to such holdings (regulations 21 to 30).

The provisions relating to administration establish the procedure for submitting claims for premium (regulations 4, 5 and 6), impose sanctions for overgrazing and the use of unsuitable supplementary feeding methods (which are included as a condition of the scheme by virtue of Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1259/1999 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy (OJ No. L160, 26.6.1999, p.113)) (regulations 8 and 9), and provide for withholding or recovery of slaughter premium where there is a breach of the rules of the scheme (regulations 10 and 11). Regulation 7 requires that, to be eligible for slaughter premium, animals must be slaughtered in slaughterhouses registered with the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce. Regulations 12 to 19 provide for the registration of slaughterhouses located in Wales; of these, regulations 13, 14, and 19 set out the procedure for registration and regulations 15 to 18 the circumstances in which, and the procedure by which, registration may be cancelled. The conditions which registered slaughterhouses must comply with are set out in the Schedule to the Regulations. The enforcement provisions in regulations 21 to 30 also apply in respect of such registrations.

The provisions relating to enforcement require claimants to retain certain records (regulation 22) and confer powers of entry, inspection and collection of evidence on authorised persons (regulations 24 and 25). These include the powers required under Article 6 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 3887/92 laying down detailed rules for applying the integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes. Regulations 28 to 30 deal with offences and penalties.

A Regulatory Appraisal has been prepared in respect of these regualtions, a copy of which is available from the National Assembly for Wales, Agriculture Department, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.