(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations revoke and replace the eight sets of Regulations specified in regulation 44.
They establish a system for trade between member States in live animals and genetic material (Part 2) and for the importation of live animals, genetic material and products of animal origin from outside the European Union (Part 3).
The European Union legislation required to be complied with before animals or goods can be released from control at the port of importation (the “border inspection post”) is listed in Schedule 1.
As before, the Secretary of State is empowered (in Part 4) to prohibit importation into England of any animal or product in the event of a disease outbreak outside the United Kingdom.
The Regulations are enforced by the Secretary of State, port health authorities, local authorities and the United Kingdom Border Agency in the circumstances set out in regulation 32.
The Regulations establish various offences, punishable on summary conviction to a fine up to the statutory maximum or on conviction on indictment to an unlimited fine (or in the case of disclosure relating to customs information imprisonment for up to three months)
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no new impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.