These Regulations, which apply in England only, revoke and remake the provisions of the Pig Carcase (Grading) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/2155) and the Beef Carcase (Classification) (England) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1317). The Regulations enforce Article 42 of, and Annex V to, Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ No L 299, 16.11.2007, p 1), which relate to Community scales for the classification of carcases, and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1249/2008 (OJ No L 337, 16.12.2008, p 3), which sets out further details regarding the implementation of those scales for the classification of carcases. The Regulations relate to the carcases of adult bovine animals and pigs.

The Regulations provide for notifications to be made to the Secretary of State by operators of slaughterhouses which slaughter adult bovine animals or pigs (regulation 5).

They contain provisions regarding the holding of licences by persons who classify bovine carcases or in relation to classification of such carcases by automated grading equipment (regulations 9 to 11).

They require the keeping of certain records (regulations 12 and 16 and Schedules 3 and 4).

Part 5 of the Regulations concerns enforcement, and makes provision relating to the powers of authorised officers, enforcement notices, penalty notices, and criminal proceedings. Regulations 19(3) and 25 to 30 set out the offences under the Regulations, which are all punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, except for offences under regulation 29(2) (false records and marks).

In particular regulations 25 and 26 provide that breach of specified provisions of European Union legislation (set out in Schedules 1 and 2) is an offence.

A full impact assessment has been produced and placed in the library of each House of Parliament. It is available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk.