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Scottish Statutory Instruments
FOOD
Made
1st March 2007
Laid before the Scottish Parliament
2nd March 2007
Coming into force
26th March 2007
The Scottish Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 M1 and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, after consultation as required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety M2, hereby make the following Regulations:
Marginal Citations
M11972 c. 68; section 2(2) was modified by the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) (“the 1998 Act”), section 125 and Schedule 8, paragraph 15. The function conferred on the Minister of the Crown under section 2(2), so far as within devolved competence, was transferred to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 of the 1998 Act. In so far as not so transferred and in so far as relating to food (including drink) including the primary production of food, that function was transferred to the Scottish Ministers by the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/849).
M2O.J. No. L 31, 1.2.02, p.1, as amended by Regulation (EC) No. 1642/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (O.J. No. L 245, 29.9.03, p.4) and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 575/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the number and names of the permanent Scientific Panels of the European Food Safety Authority (O.J. No. L 100, 8.4.06, p.3).
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Meat (Official Controls Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 and come into force on 26th March 2007.
(2) These Regulations extend to Scotland only.
2. In these Regulations–
“accounting period” means a period of less than a year determined by the Agency;
“the Agency” means the Food Standards Agency M3;
“agreed slaughterhouse staff costs” means, in respect of any slaughterhouse at which poultry or lagomorphs are slaughtered–
the proportion (expressed as a sum of money) of the salaries (including overtime payments and employer's pension and National Insurance contributions) paid to the staff at that slaughterhouse in respect of an accounting period that the Agency and the operator of the slaughterhouse may agree as being attributable to any such staff assisting with official controls by carrying out certain tasks there during that period under Article 5.6 of Regulation 854/2004; plus
25% of that sum;
“cutting plant” means an establishment which is used for boning and/or cutting up fresh meat for placing on the market and which–
is approved or conditionally approved under Article 31.2 of Regulation 882/2004; or
(although lacking the approval or conditional approval that it requires under Article 4.3 of Regulation 853/2004) was, on 31st December 2005, operating as licensed cutting premises under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 M4 or the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 M5;
“cutting up” has the meaning that it bears in Regulation 853/2004 and “cut up” shall be construed accordingly;
“Directive 2004/41”, “Regulation 178/2002”, “Regulation 852/2004”, “Regulation 853/2004”, “Regulation 854/2004”, “Regulation 882/2004”, “Regulation 1688/2005”, “Regulation 2073/2005”, “Regulation 2074/2005”, “Regulation 2075/2005”, “Regulation 2076/2005”, “Regulation 776/2006”; “Regulation 1662/2006”, “Regulation 1663/2006”, “Regulation 1664/2006”, “Regulation 1665/2006”, “Regulation 1666/2006” and “Regulation 1791/2006” have the meanings respectively given to them in Schedule 1;
“domestic ungulates” has the meaning given to it in point 1.2 of Annex I to Regulation 853/2004;
“employer's National Insurance contributions” means those social security contributions for which an employer is liable under Part I of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 M6;
“establishment” has the meaning given to it in Article 2.1(c) of Regulation 852/2004;
“farmed game” has the meaning given to it in point 1.6 of Annex I to Regulation 853/2004;
“food business operator” has the meaning given to it in Article 3.3 of Regulation 178/2002;
“fresh meat” has the meaning given to it in point 1.10 of Annex I to Regulation 853/2004;
“game” has the meaning that it bears in Regulation 853/2004;
“game-handling establishment” means any establishment in which game and game meat obtained after hunting are prepared for placing on the market and which–
is approved or conditionally approved under Article 31.2 of Regulation 882/2004; or
(although lacking the approval or conditional approval that it requires under Article 4.3 of Regulation 853/2004) was, on 31st December 2005, operating as a licensed wild game processing facility under the Wild Game (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 M7;
“game meat” has the meaning that it bears in Regulation 853/2004;
“lagomorphs” has the meaning given to it in point 1.4 of Annex I to Regulation 853/2004;
“meat” has the meaning given to it in point 1.1 of Annex I to Regulation 853/2004;
“official controls” means the controls performed by the Agency under Regulation 854/2004–
at slaughterhouses, game-handling establishments and cutting plants, for the verification of compliance with the provisions of Regulation 853/2004, insofar as they apply in relation to meat of domestic ungulates, meat from poultry and lagomorphs, meat of farmed game or, as the case may be, meat of wild game; and
at slaughterhouses, for the verification of compliance with the provisions of the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 M8, in so far as they apply in relation to animals slaughtered there for human consumption;
“official controls charge” means the charge calculated in accordance with Schedule 2 and notified in accordance with regulation 3(1), (2) or (3);
“operator” means a food business operator who is carrying on the business of a slaughterhouse, game-handling establishment or cutting plant or that operator's duly authorised representative;
“placing on the market” has the meaning given to it in Article 3.8 of Regulation 178/2002;
“poultry” has the meaning given to it in point 1.3 of Annex I to Regulation 853/2004;
“premises” means any slaughterhouse, game-handling establishment or cutting plant;
“slaughterhouse” means an establishment used for slaughtering and dressing animals, the meat of which is intended for human consumption and which–
is approved or conditionally approved under Article 31.2 of Regulation 882/2004; or
(although lacking the approval or conditional approval that it requires under Article 4.3 of Regulation 853/2004) was, on 31st December 2005, operating as a licensed slaughterhouse under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 or the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995;
“verification” means checking, by examination and provision of objective evidence; and
“wild game” has the meaning given to it in point 1.5 of Annex I to Regulation 853/2004.
Marginal Citations
M3Established under section 1 of the Food Standards Act 1999 (c. 28).
M4S.I. 1995/539, revoked with effect from 1st January 2006 by S.S.I. 2005/505.
M5S.I. 1995/540, revoked with effect from 1st January 2006 by S.S.I. 2005/505.
M7S.I. 1995/2148, revoked with effect from 1st January 2006 by S.S.I. 2005/505.
M8S.I. 1995/731, amended by S.I. 1999/400 and 1820, S.S.I. 2000/62, 2001/73 and 145, 2002/238, 2004/13 and 2006/536.
3.—(1) The Agency shall, subject to the following provisions of this regulation, notify the operator of each slaughterhouse, game-handling establishment and cutting plant in which official controls have been exercised in any accounting period of an official controls charge in respect of those official controls as soon as practicable after the end of that period.
(2) Where the Agency cannot comply with paragraph (1) because it has insufficient information available to it to enable it to calculate the official controls charge for any accounting period in respect of any such premises as are specified in that paragraph, it shall notify the operator of those premises of an interim charge, being such amount as the Agency estimates (having regard to the information it has) the official controls charge to be.
(3) Where the Agency has notified an operator of an interim charge in accordance with paragraph (2) and sufficient information becomes available to the Agency to calculate the official controls charge, it shall calculate that charge and–
(a)where it exceeds the interim charge, notify the operator of the final charge, being the amount by which the official controls charge exceeds the interim charge; or
(b)subject to paragraph (6), where it is less than the interim charge, credit to the operator the amount by which the interim charge exceeds the official controls charge.
(4) Any charge notified to an operator under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) shall be payable by the operator to the Scottish Ministers and shall be recoverable on demand by the Scottish Ministers or by the Agency acting on their behalf, as a debt from the occupier concerned.
(5) Where any agreed slaughterhouse staff costs have been used to calculate a charge falling to be notified under paragraph (1), (2) or (3), those costs shall be set off against the amount of that charge in calculating the actual charge notified thereunder, provided that no refund shall be made to the relevant operator.
(6) Where under paragraph (3)(b) a sum is to be credited to an operator, the Scottish Ministers may if they so determine pay such sum to the operator concerned instead of crediting such sum to the operator.
4. Where the Scottish Ministers, or the Agency acting on their behalf have obtained decree against an operator of any premises for any sum which is payable to Scottish Ministers under regulation 3(4) and the operator fails within a reasonable time thereafter to comply with that decree, the Scottish Ministers may (without prejudice to any other legal remedy open to them) direct the Agency not to exercise any further official controls at those premises in respect of which the debt accrued until the debt has been satisfied.
5.—(1) Any person shall, on demand being made by the Agency, supply–
(a)such information as the Agency may reasonably require for the purpose of calculating the official controls charge or notifying an operator of it; and
(b)such evidence as the Agency may reasonably require to enable it to verify information supplied under sub-paragraph (a).
(2) Any person who–
(a)in purported compliance with paragraph (1), knowingly or recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in a material particular; or
(b)without reasonable excuse, fails to comply within a reasonable time with a demand made under that paragraph,
is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
6. The Meat (Official Controls Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 M9 are revoked.
Marginal Citations
LEWIS MACDONALD
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew's House,
Edinburgh
1st March 2007
Regulation 2
“Directive 2004/41” means Directive 2004/41/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council repealing certain directives concerning food hygiene and health conditions for the production and placing on the market of certain products of animal origin intended for human consumption and amending Council Directives 89/662/EEC and 92/118/EEC and Council Decision 95/408/EC M10;
“Regulation 178/2002” means Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety M11;
“Regulation 852/2004” means Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the hygiene of foodstuffs M12, as read with Regulation 2073/2005;
“Regulation 853/2004” means Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin M13, as amended by Regulation 2074/2005, Regulation 2076/2005, Regulation 1662/2006 and Regulation 1791/2006 and as read with Directive 2004/41, Regulation 1688/2005, Regulation 2074/2005 and Regulation 2076/2005;
“Regulation 854/2004” means Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption M14, as amended by Regulation 882/2004, Regulation 2074/2005, Regulation 2076/2005, Regulation 1663/2006 and Regulation 1791/2006 and as read with Directive 2004/41, Regulation 2074/2005, Regulation 2075/2005 and Regulation 2076/2005;
“Regulation 882/2004” means Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules M15, as amended by Regulation 776/2006 and Regulation 1791/2006 and as read with Regulation 2074/2005 and Regulation 2076/2005;
“Regulation 1688/2005” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1688/2005 implementing Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards special guarantees concerning salmonella for consignments to Finland and Sweden of certain meat and eggs M16;
“Regulation 2073/2005” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs M17;
“Regulation 2074/2005” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2074/2005 laying down implementing measures for certain products under Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and for the organisation of official controls under Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, derogating from Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Regulations (EC) No. 853/2004 and (EC) No. 854/2004 M18, as amended by Regulation 1664/2006;
“Regulation 2075/2005” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2075/2005 laying down specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat M19, as amended by Regulation 1665/2006;
“Regulation 2076/2005” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2076/2005 laying down transitional arrangements for the implementation of Regulations (EC) No. 853/2004, (EC) No. 854/2004 and (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Regulations (EC) No. 853/2004 and (EC) No. 854/2004 M20, as amended by Regulation 1666/2006;
“Regulation 776/2006” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 776/2006 amending Annex VII to Regulation 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards Community reference laboratories M21;
“Regulation 1662/2006” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1662/2006 amending Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin M22;
“Regulation 1663/2006” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1663/2006 amending Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption M23;
“Regulation 1664/2006” means Commission Regulation 1664/2006 amending Regulation (EC) No. 2074/2005 as regards implementing measures for certain products of animal origin intended for human consumption and repealing certain implementing measures M24;
“Regulation 1665/2006” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1665/2006 amending Regulation (EC) No. 2075/2005 laying down specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat M25;
“Regulation 1666/2006” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1666/2006 amending Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2076/2005 laying down transitional arrangements for the implementation of Regulations (EC) No. 853/2004, (EC) No. 854/2004 and (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council M26; and
“Regulation 1791/2006” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 1791/2006 adapting certain Regulations and Decisions in the fields of free movement of goods, freedom of movement of persons, company law, competition policy, agriculture (including veterinary and phytosanitary legislation), transport policy, taxation, statistics, energy, environment, co operation in the fields of justice and home affairs, customs union, external relations, common foreign and security policy and institutions, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania M27.
Marginal Citations
M10O.J. No. L 157, 30.4.04, p.33. The revised text of Directive 2004/41/EC is set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 195, 2.6.04, p.12).
M11O.J. No. L 31, 1.2.02, p.1.
M12O.J. No. L 139, 30.4.04, p.1. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 is set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 226, 25.6.04, p.3).
M13O.J. No. L 139, 30.4.04, p.55. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 is set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 226, 25.6.04, p.22).
M14O.J. No. L 139, 30.4.04, p.206. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 is set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 226, 25.6.04, p.83).
M15O.J. No. L 165, 30.4.04, p.1. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 is set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 191, 28.5.04, p.1).
M16O.J. No. L 271, 15.10.05, p.17.
M17O.J. No. L 338, 22.12.05, p.1. The text of Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 is subject to Corrigenda (O.J. No. L 278, 10.10.06, p.32 and O.J. No. L 283, 14.10.06, p.62).
M18O.J. No. L 338, 22.12.05, p.27.
M19O.J. No. L 338, 22.12.05, p.60.
M20O.J. No. L 338, 22.12.05, p.83.
M21O.J. No. L 136, 24.5.06, p.3.
M22O.J. No. L 320, 18.11.06, p.1.
M23O.J. No. L 320, 18.11.06, p.11.
M24O.J. No. L 320, 18.11.06, p.13.
M25O.J. No. L 320, 18.11.06, p.46.
M26O.J. No. L 320, 18.11.06, p.47.
M27O.J. No. L 363, 20.12.06, p.1.
Regulation 2
1. Subject to paragraph 2, the official controls charge payable by the operator of any premises for any accounting period shall be the lower of–
(a)the sum of–
(i)the standard charge incurred in relation to those premises for that period; and
(ii)any additional charge incurred in relation to those premises for that period by virtue of paragraph 7; and
(b)the time costs generated by those premises for that period.
2.—(1) This paragraph applies where the official controls charge calculated under paragraph 1 for any accounting period (amount A), when added to the official controls charge payable in respect of all earlier accounting periods falling within the same financial period (amount B), produces a total (amount C) which is greater than the amount of the official controls charge which would be payable under paragraph 1 if those accounting periods were one accounting period (amount D).S
(2) Where this paragraph applies, the official controls charge payable by an operator for an accounting period shall be the amount by which amount D exceeds amount B.
(3) In this paragraph “financial period” means–
(a)the period commencing on 26th March 2007 and ending on 30th March 2008; and
(b)thereafter, the period commencing on the Monday immediately following the last Sunday in March in any year and ending on the last Sunday in March in the following year.
3. The standard charge for any accounting period (expressed in Euros) payable by the operator of a slaughterhouse shall be calculated by multiplying the rate specified in the following Table applicable to a given type of animal by the number of animals of that type slaughtered and/or as the case may be dressed there in the period.
4. The standard charge for any accounting period (expressed in Euros) payable by the operator of a game-handling establishment in respect of wild game dressed there during that period shall be calculated by multiplying the rate specified in the following Table applicable to a given type of animal that is categorised as wild game by the number of animals of that type dressed there in the period.S
Type of animal | Rate per type of animal in Euros |
---|---|
Bovine animals | |
• aged 6 weeks or more at slaughter | 4.7183 |
• aged less than 6 weeks at slaughter | 2.6213 |
Equidae and other solipeds | 4.6134 |
Pigs including wild boar | |
• carcase weight less than 25 kg | 0.5243 |
• carcase weight greater than or equal to 25 kg | 1.3631 |
Sheep, goats and other ruminants not listed elsewhere in this Table | |
• carcase weight less than 12 kg | 0.1835 |
• carcase weight between 12 and 18 kg inclusive | 0.3670 |
• carcase weight greater than 18 kg | 0.5243 |
Poultry, rabbits, small game birds and ground game | |
• all broilers; all cast hens; other poultry, rabbits, small game birds and ground game weighing less than 2 kg | 0.0105 |
• poultry (not being broilers or cast hens), rabbits, small game birds and ground game weighing at least 2 kg (except those which are adult and weigh at least 5 kg) | 0.0210 |
• poultry (not being broilers or cast hens), rabbits, small game birds and ground game (all being adult) and weighing at least 5 kg | 0.0419 |
Ostriches and other ratites | 1.3631 |
Land mammals and birds of a type not mentioned above | 1.3631 |
5. The standard charge for any accounting period (expressed in Euros) payable by the operator of a cutting plant or of a game-handling establishment in respect of meat brought into the plant or establishment during that period for the purposes of being cut up and/or boned there shall be calculated by multiplying by 3.1455 the number of tonnes of such meat.S
6. The standard charge (expressed in Euros) shall be converted into Sterling by multiplying it by the Euro/Sterling conversion rate applicable in the year in which the official controls giving rise to the charge were carried out.S
7.—(1) Where in respect of an accounting period the Agency incurs increased costs because of inefficiency in the operation of premises, it may, in accordance with this paragraph, add an additional charge to the standard charge incurred in relation to the premises for that period.S
(2) The additional charge shall be a sum equal to the time costs generated by the inefficiency for the accounting period concerned.
(3) The Agency may not make an additional charge in accordance with this paragraph unless it has notified the operator of its intention to do so.
(4) The notification referred to in sub-paragraph (3) shall be given as soon as is practicable after the Agency has concluded that it wishes to make an additional charge in accordance with this paragraph.
(5) For the purposes of this paragraph “inefficiency” means inefficiency on the part of the operator and shall include in particular–
(a)delay in the start of slaughtering attributable to the operator;
(b)mechanical breakdown caused by lack of maintenance;
(c)enforcement action taken by the Agency or an official;
(d)under-employment of inspectors caused by the operator's failure to adhere to the working hours or working practices agreed for the purposes of this paragraph pursuant to sub paragraph (6);
(e)insufficient provision of slaughter staff caused by the operator's failure to adhere to the working hours or working practices agreed for the purposes of this paragraph pursuant to sub-paragraph (6);
(f)delays caused by risks to the health or safety of inspectors attributable to the operator; and
(g)any change to the working hours or working practices agreed for the purposes of this paragraph pursuant to sub paragraph (6) which is attributable to the operator.
(6) For the purposes of sub paragraph (5)(d), (e) and (g), the Agency and the operator shall agree working hours and working practices and shall keep the working hours and working practices so agreed under review.
(7) Where, following any such review, it appears to the Agency and the operator that it is appropriate to do so, they may by further agreement vary any working hours or working practices agreed pursuant to sub paragraph (6).
(8) Where any working hours or working practices have been varied pursuant to sub paragraph (7) they shall be treated as having been agreed pursuant to sub paragraph (6).
(9) No additional charge may be made in accordance with this paragraph in respect of any increased costs incurred because of any variation in working hours or working practices which does not alter the working hours or working practices which have been agreed in accordance with sub paragraph (6).
8.—(1) An operator who does not agree that an additional charge is justified under paragraph 7 may request that the question be determined by a person nominated for the purpose pursuant to sub paragraph (3)(a).S
(2) A request under sub paragraph (1) shall be made within 1 week of the Agency giving the operator notice under paragraph 7(3).
(3) Where an operator makes a request under sub paragraph (1)–
(a)the Agency shall nominate a person to determine the question from the list established under sub paragraph (4);
(b)the person so nominated shall give the operator and the Agency an opportunity to make representations on the question to be determined; and
(c)the person so nominated shall, within 1 month of being nominated, decide whether an additional charge is payable and shall notify the operator and the Agency of that decision.
(4) The Agency shall establish and maintain a list of people who may be nominated for the purposes of this paragraph and shall consult those organisations appearing to represent operators before including any person on the list.
9. The time costs generated by any premises in any accounting period shall (subject to paragraphs 10 and 11) be calculated by–
(a)multiplying the time (expressed in hours and fractions of an hour) spent by each inspector exercising official controls at those premises in the period by the hourly rate applicable to that inspector determined or varied in accordance with paragraphs 12 to 14;
(b)adding the results together; and
(c)adding any agreed slaughterhouse staff costs for the period.
10. The time costs in respect of any official controls shall include any overtime payments or other similar allowances made to the inspector concerned under that inspector's contract of employment or contract for services for exercising those official controls.S
11. In determining the total time spent in exercising official controls, any time spent by an inspector–S
(a)in travelling to or from premises at which that inspector exercises official controls and for which that inspector is paid under a contract of employment or contract for services;
(b)at any premises to which that inspector has gone for the purpose of exercising official controls and for which that inspector is paid under a contract of employment or contract for services (regardless of whether or not that inspector is able to exercise official controls there); and
(c)at any other place–
(i)when that inspector is available for exercising official controls but is not in fact exercising any such controls, and
(ii)for which that inspector is paid under a contract of employment or contract for services,
shall be counted as if it were time when the inspector was exercising official controls.
12. The Agency shall determine the hourly rate applicable to inspectors, and may determine different rates for different inspectors or different classes of inspector, having regard to the level of qualifications and experience of different inspectors or classes of inspector and to the cost of exercising official controls by different inspectors or classes of inspector.S
13. The hourly rate for any inspector or class of inspector shall be calculated so as to reflect such proportion of the costs of the items listed in Annex VI to Regulation 882/2004 incurred by that inspector or class of inspector in exercising official controls (excluding any additional costs taken into account pursuant to paragraph 10) as the Agency considers it proper to apportion to that hourly rate.S
14. The Agency may vary any rate determined pursuant to paragraph 12 where, having regard to variations in the costs referred to in paragraph 13, it appears to it to be necessary to do so.S
15. Prior to determining or varying hourly rates in accordance with paragraphs 12 to 14, the Agency shall consult such operators as are likely to be affected by those rates.S
16. In this Schedule–
(a)“official auxiliary” and “official veterinarian” have the meanings respectively given to them in Article 2.1(h) and (f) of Regulation 854/2004;
(b)“inspector” means an official veterinarian or an official auxiliary;
(c)“the standard charge” means, in relation to any slaughterhouse, game handling establishment or cutting plant for any accounting period, the charge calculated in accordance with paragraph 3, 4 or 5, as the case may be, converted into Sterling in accordance with paragraph 6;
(d)“the Euro / Sterling conversion rate” applicable in respect of any given year shall be–
(i)for 2007, 1 Euro = £0.67410; and
(ii)in each subsequent year, the rate published in the C Series of the Official Journal of the European Communities on the first working day of the September of the preceding year or, if no rate is published in it on that day, the first rate published in it thereafter; and
(e)“time costs” means, in relation to any establishment for any accounting period, the costs calculated in accordance with paragraphs 9 to 11.
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations extend to Scotland only. They revoke and replace the Meat (Official Controls Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/580).
The Regulations give effect in Scotland of Articles 26 and 27 of Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004, in so far as those provisions require fees to be collected to cover the costs occasioned by official controls. Provisions in Directive 85/73/EEC, in relation to the rates currently applied, shall continue to apply for a transitional period until 1st January 2008. These official controls are performed, firstly, on meat of domestic ungulates, meat from poultry and lagomorphs, meat of farmed game and meat of wild game under Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 and, secondly, to verify compliance with the animal welfare rules set out in Council Directive 93/119/EC (O.J. No. L 340, 31.12.93, p.21), in so far as they apply in relation to animals slaughtered for human consumption at slaughterhouses.
The Regulations–
require the Agency to notify the operator of each slaughterhouse, game-handling establishment and cutting plant in which official controls have been exercised of the official controls charge that has arisen in relation to those official controls (the terms “slaughterhouse”, “game-handling establishment”, “cutting plant”, “official controls” and “official controls charge” are all defined in regulation 2) (regulation 3);
provide that any official controls charge so notified is payable by the operator to the Agency on demand (regulation 3);
allow the Agency to refuse to exercise any further official controls at given premises where, despite a Court decree requiring the operator of the premises to pay the official controls charge for which that operator is liable, the operator fails to comply with the decree (regulation 4);
require persons–
to supply the Agency on demand with such information as it may reasonably require for the purpose of calculating the official controls charge or notifying the operator of it; and
to supply the Agency on demand with such evidence as it may reasonably require to verify that information (regulation 5); and
provide that a person who–
in response to a demand for information or evidence, knowingly or recklessly furnishes false or misleading information; or
without reasonable excuse, fails to comply within a reasonable time with a demand for information or evidence;
is guilty of an offence (regulation 5).
Schedule 2 to the Regulations sets out how the official controls charge is to be calculated.
A full regulatory impact assessment, which includes a compliance cost assessment of the effect which these Regulations would have on business costs, has been prepared for these Regulations and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Copies may be obtained from the Food Standards Agency (Scotland), 6th Floor, St Magnus House, 25 Guild Street, Aberdeen AB11 6NJ.