These Regulations provide for payments by the appropriate Minister (defined in regulation 2) to beef producers in the United Kingdom in pursuance of Article 4(a) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1357/96, which provides for additional payments to producers of bovine animals in the beef and veal sector.

Payments may be made in respect of certain bovine animals sold after 19th March 1996 and before 1st July 1996 for slaughter for human consumption or accepted for slaughter under the Bull Slaughter Scheme (Northern Ireland) 1996.

Regulation 5 requires a producer who has made an application under the Regulations to retain for four years specified records relating to the eligible bovine animals in respect of which he made the application. Regulation 6 confers on authorised persons powers of entry and inspection as well as powers of seizure and retention of records, and regulation 7 requires that such assistance as may be reasonably requested by authorised persons be given by applicants for payments and their employees and agents.

Regulation 8 specifies the circumstances in which payments made to a producer may be recovered by the appropriate Minister and regulation 9 provides for the payment of interest on overdue payments. Regulation 10 creates offences and prescribes penalties. Regulation 11 specifies time limits for bringing prosecutions and regulation 12 makes provision for dealing with offences committed by corporate bodies and Scottish partnerships.