(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, which come into force in accordance with regulation 1(1), abolish the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce (“the Board”) (regulation 2), and transfer its property, rights and liabilities principally to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs but with others being divided between that Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers, the National Assembly for Wales and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (regulation 4). In consequence of the abolition of the Board, s.6 (1) and (2) of the European Communities Act 1972, which are thereby rendered redundant, are repealed, and amendments are made to s.6 (3), (4) and (5) of that Act (regulation 3). The Regulations also permit the Secretary of State to enter an arrangement with the Scottish Ministers for the exercise by him, on their behalf, of any functions in connection with the carrying out of the United Kingdom’s obligations under the common agricultural policy, and provide for the joint supervision by the Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers, the National Assembly for Wales and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of any exercise by the Secretary of State, either on his own behalf (in which event such supervision shall be subject to his consent) or on behalf of all or any of the others, of functions (other than a power to legislate) either in connection with carrying out the United Kingdom’s obligations under the common agricultural policy or of any other kind previously entrusted to the Board; they also permit there to be delegated to the Meat and Livestock Commission any function which was exercisable by the Board, but had ceased to be so, prior to the coming into force of the Regulations, or any function transferred by these Regulations, being (in either case) a function exercisable in relation to any part of Great Britain with respect to livestock or livestock products (regulation 5). In addition, the Regulations make consequential amendments to other primary and secondary legislation so far as such legislation extends to the United Kingdom (regulation 6), and so far as such legislation extends to England and Wales or Northern Ireland (regulation 7), and make transitional and consequential provisions (regulation 8).
No Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations.