Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Article 13(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3820/85 of 20th December 1985 on harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport (“the Council Regulation”) provides that Member States may, after authorisation by the Commission, grant exceptions from the application of the provisions of that Regulation to transport operations carried out in exceptional circumstances.

These Regulations amend the Community Drivers' Hours (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Temporary Exception) (No. 2) Regulations 2001 (as amended by S.I. 2001/1822) (“the principal Regulations”) so as to extend the expiry date of the exceptions provided for in those Regulations for a further period of 30 days until 2nd August 2001. The Commission has authorised the continuation of the temporary exception provided for by these Regulations.

The principal Regulations provided that until 3rd July 2001, any time spent driving vehicles for the purposes specified in regulation 3(1) to meet the exceptional circumstances occasioned by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain, or the effects or consequences of such exceptional circumstances, shall not be taken into account for the purposes of the application of Article 6(2) of the Council Regulation.

The principal Regulations also provided that in relation to the driving of such vehicles in the exceptional circumstances mentioned above, Articles 6(1) and 8(3) of the Council Regulation shall have effect subject to certain modifications.