The Milk and Milk Products (Pupils in Educational Establishments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Milk and Milk Products (Pupils in Educational Establishments) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (“the principal Regulations”).

These Regulations update references in the principal Regulations in light of changes in EU law (regulations 3 and 4). Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 (O.J. L 160, 26.6.99, p.48) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 2707/2000 (O.J. L 311, 12.12.00, p.37) were repealed and replaced by Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 657/2008 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation 1234/2007 as regards aid for supplying milk and certain milk products to pupils in educational establishments (“the Commission Regulation”). The new EU law deals with the same subject matter as the EU law which it revoked and replaced i.e. the rules governing the provision of Community aid for milk and milk products in educational establishments.

These Regulations replace references in the principal Regulations with the corresponding references to the replacement provisions in the Single CMO Regulation and the Commission Regulation. There are no major changes as a result of the replaced provisions although there are some minor changes as follows—

(a) secondary schools may now also be beneficiaries of aid (Article 2);

(b) new provision on eligible milk products for aid (Article 3(1) and (4));

(c) changes to general conditions for approval, in relation to written commitments on scrutiny of records and repayment of unduly paid aid (Article 8);

(d) less stringent record keeping requirements for suppliers of milk products and organisations acting on behalf of schools (Article 9);

(e) extended period after which approval for aid may be restored at an applicant’s request, if it has been withdrawn (Article 10);

(f) payment applications must now be lodged by the end of the third, rather than fourth, month following the end of the period of the application (Article 11);

(g) small changes in relation to the detailed rules for the payment of aid, including aid must now be paid within three, rather than four, months of a valid application being lodged (Article 12);

(h) provision on administrative checking of aid applications has been introduced, including on the spot checks (Article 15);

(i) the provision previously allowing Member States to pay advances of aid is no longer incorporated.

The amendments to regulation 3 of the principal Regulations ensure that any national aid payments under regulation 3 of the principal Regulations shall be subject to the same rules, requirements and conditions as apply to Community aid, which is paid under Article 102(1) of the Single CMO Regulation as implemented by the Commission Regulation.

These Regulations provide that references, in the principal Regulations, to Article 102 of the Single CMO Regulation and the Commission Regulation are to be construed as references to that Article and that Regulation as amended from time to time.

Any amendments to Article 102 and that Commission Regulation will be published on the Europa website, ( http://europa.eu/documentation/legislation/index_en.htm). Additionally the Scottish Government will publish relevant information on the Scottish Government website (www.scotland.gov.uk) and updates will be sent to interested parties where considered appropriate.

A Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment has not been produced for this instrument, as there will be no cost to business.