Slaughter Premium Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations, which come into operation on 6th June 2001, lay down 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 (O.J. No. L160, 26.6.1999, p. 21). The Regulations provide for the administration of the scheme in relation to holdings in Northern Ireland and also holdings situated partly in Northern Ireland and partly elsewhere in the United Kingdom, where the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for processing the farmer’s claim for slaughter premium (regulations 3 to 11). They also lay down enforcement provisions in relation to holdings or parts of holdings in Northern Ireland (regulations 13 to 20).

The provisions relating to administration establish the procedure for submitting claims for premium (regulations 4 and 5), 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 (O.J. 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 6 requires that for animals exported to Great Britain to be eligible for slaughter premium, animals must be slaughtered in registered slaughterhouses. Regulation 7 requires claimants to retain certain records.

The provisions relating to enforcement confer powers of entry, inspection and collection of evidence on authorised persons (regulations 14 and 15). 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 (O.J. No. L391, 31.12.92 p. 36). Regulations 18 to 20 deal with offences and penalties.