These Regulations, which come into force on 1st March 2001, amend the Sheep Annual Premium Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/2677, as already amended by S.I. 1994/2741, 1995/2779, 1996/49, 1997/2500 and 2000/2573) (“the principal Regulations”).

They amend the principal Regulations in so far as to a “relevant extent ” the latter relate to any producer for the purposes of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3493/90 laying down general rules for the grant of premium to sheepmeat and goatmeat producers (OJ No. L337, 4.12.90, p.7). The “relevant extent ” for this purpose is the extent to which, in relation to the holding of the producer in question, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the relevant competent authority for the purposes of the Integrated Administration and Control System Regulations 1993 (S.I. 1993/1317, as amended by S.I. 1994/1134, 1997/1148, 1999/1820 and 2000/2573).

The Regulations insert a new regulation 8 into the principal Regulations which imposes record-keeping requirements on those producers relating to specified events. In addition, they make consequential amendments to the principal Regulations as well as updating, where necessary, references to Community legislation (regulation 3). These record-keeping requirements implement Article 4(1)(b) of Council Directive (EEC) No. 92/102 on the identification and registration of animals (OJ No. L355, 5.12.92, p.32) and were previously specified in article 5 of the Sheep and Goats Identification (England) Order 2000 (S.I. 2000/2027), and these Regulations also make consequential amendments to that Order (regulation 4).

No Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations.