(This note does not form part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for the enforcement in Wales of—

a

Title II of Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products (OJNo. L204, 11.8.00, p.1) (“the Council Regulation”) and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1825/2000 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 as regards the labelling of beef and beef products (OJNo. L216, 26.8.00, p. 8) (“the Commission Regulation”), in respect of beef derived from animals slaughtered on or after 1 September 2000; and

b

Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1141/97 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 820/97 as regards the labelling of beef and beef products, in respect of beef derived from animals slaughtered before 1 September 2000.

These Regulations—

  • make the National Assembly for Wales the competent authority for the purposes of the Council Regulation and the Commission Regulations (regulation 3);

  • create an offence of failure to comply with the requirements applicable under the Council Regulation and the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1825/2000 where any such failure is in respect of beef derived from animals slaughtered on or after 1 September 2000 (regulation 4(1)(a));

  • create an offence of failure to comply with the requirements applicable under Commission Regulation 1141/97 where any such failure is in respect of beef derived from animals slaughtered before 1 September 2000 (regulation 4(1)(b);

  • provide a power for enforcement authorities to issue notices requiring persons to remove from sale any beef that has been labelled in a manner that does not comply with the requirements of the Council Regulation, the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1825/2000 or Commission Regulation 1141/97 (regulation 4(2));

  • create an offence of failure to comply with a notice issued under regulation 4(2) (regulation 4(4));

  • identify the enforcement authorities (regulation 5);

  • set a penalty for any offence under the Regulations (regulation 6);

  • apply various enforcement provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 (regulation 7); and

  • revoke the Beef Labelling (Enforcement) Regulations 1998 in relation to Wales.