3.—(1) The Agency is designated as the competent authority for the purposes of Article 4 in relation to welfare requirements of animals, to the extent that it is designated as the competent authority mentioned in regulation 4(1) of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 M1.
(2) In any other case, the Secretary of State is designated as the competent authority for the purposes of Article 4 —
(a)in England, in relation to the areas governed by the relevant legislation;
(b)in the United Kingdom, in relation to the areas referred to in Article 1(2)(i) (organic production and labelling of organic products) and Article 1(2)(j) (use and labelling of protected designations of origin, protected geographical indications and traditional specialities guaranteed).
(3) Local authorities and local food authorities (including any that are enforcement authorities under any relevant legislation) are designated authorities in relation to functions of enforcement and execution (other than prosecution) which they exercise under relevant legislation.
(4) The Secretary of State may confer on one or more organic control authorities certain responsibilities related to official controls or other official activities.
(5) Any designated authority must draw up written records (on paper or in electronic form) of official controls and other official activities that they perform, and such records must contain—
(a)a description of the purpose of the relevant official controls and other official activities;
(b)the control methods applied;
(c)the outcome; and
(d)where appropriate, any action required by the designated authority.
(6) Where non-compliance has been identified by any designated authority through the application of official controls, it must promptly inform the business operator of the non-compliance.
Commencement Information
I1Reg. 3 in force at 14.12.2019, see reg. 1(1)
Marginal Citations
M1S.I. 2015/1782, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.