EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision allowing the Secretary of State to implement specific elements of Article 64 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, in Northern Ireland.

Regulation 3 provides that the Secretary of State may do anything that the Secretary of State considers appropriate in connection with the construction of facilities for the purpose of performing official controls. It also makes provision for the Secretary of State to direct the competent authority in Northern Ireland to recruit and employ staff to implement Article 64 in Northern Ireland.

A full impact assessment has not been published for this instrument as no or minimal impact on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is foreseen.