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SCOTTISH STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS


2007 No. 144

FOOD

The Meat (Official Controls Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2007

  Made 1st March 2007 
  Laid before the Scottish Parliament 2nd March 2007 
  Coming into force 26th March 2007 

The Scottish Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972[1] and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, after consultation as required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety[2], hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and extent
     1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Meat (Official Controls Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 and come into force on 26th March 2007.

    (2) These Regulations extend to Scotland only.

Interpretation
    
2. In these Regulations–

Charges
     3. —(1) The Agency shall, subject to the following provisions of this regulation, notify the operator of each slaughterhouse, game-handling establishment and cutting plant in which official controls have been exercised in any accounting period of an official controls charge in respect of those official controls as soon as practicable after the end of that period.

    (2) Where the Agency cannot comply with paragraph (1) because it has insufficient information available to it to enable it to calculate the official controls charge for any accounting period in respect of any such premises as are specified in that paragraph, it shall notify the operator of those premises of an interim charge, being such amount as the Agency estimates (having regard to the information it has) the official controls charge to be.

    (3) Where the Agency has notified an operator of an interim charge in accordance with paragraph (2) and sufficient information becomes available to the Agency to calculate the official controls charge, it shall calculate that charge and–

    (4) Any charge notified to an operator under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) shall be payable by the operator to the Scottish Ministers and shall be recoverable on demand by the Scottish Ministers or by the Agency acting on their behalf, as a debt from the occupier concerned.

    (5) Where any agreed slaughterhouse staff costs have been used to calculate a charge falling to be notified under paragraph (1), (2) or (3), those costs shall be set off against the amount of that charge in calculating the actual charge notified thereunder, provided that no refund shall be made to the relevant operator.

    (6) Where under paragraph (3)(b) a sum is to be credited to an operator, the Scottish Ministers may if they so determine pay such sum to the operator concerned instead of crediting such sum to the operator.

Withdrawal of official controls
    
4. Where the Scottish Ministers, or the Agency acting on their behalf have obtained decree against an operator of any premises for any sum which is payable to Scottish Ministers under regulation 3(4) and the operator fails within a reasonable time thereafter to comply with that decree, the Scottish Ministers may (without prejudice to any other legal remedy open to them) direct the Agency not to exercise any further official controls at those premises in respect of which the debt accrued until the debt has been satisfied.

Information
    
5. —(1) Any person shall, on demand being made by the Agency, supply–

    (2) Any person who–

is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Revocation
    
6. The Meat (Official Controls Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2006[9] are revoked.


LEWIS MACDONALD
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers

St Andrew's House, Edinburgh
1st March 2007



SCHEDULE 1
Regulation 2


DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNITY LEGISLATION




SCHEDULE 2
Regulation 2


CALCULATION OF THE OFFICIAL CONTROLS CHARGE


The official controls charge
     1. Subject to paragraph 2, the official controls charge payable by the operator of any premises for any accounting period shall be the lower of–

     2. —(1) This paragraph applies where the official controls charge calculated under paragraph 1 for any accounting period (amount A), when added to the official controls charge payable in respect of all earlier accounting periods falling within the same financial period (amount B), produces a total (amount C) which is greater than the amount of the official controls charge which would be payable under paragraph 1 if those accounting periods were one accounting period (amount D).

    (2) Where this paragraph applies, the official controls charge payable by an operator for an accounting period shall be the amount by which amount D exceeds amount B.

    (3) In this paragraph "financial period" means–

The standard charge
     3. The standard charge for any accounting period (expressed in Euros) payable by the operator of a slaughterhouse shall be calculated by multiplying the rate specified in the following Table applicable to a given type of animal by the number of animals of that type slaughtered and/or as the case may be dressed there in the period.

     4. The standard charge for any accounting period (expressed in Euros) payable by the operator of a game-handling establishment in respect of wild game dressed there during that period shall be calculated by multiplying the rate specified in the following Table applicable to a given type of animal that is categorised as wild game by the number of animals of that type dressed there in the period.

Type of animal Rate per type of animal in Euros
Bovine animals           
• aged 6 weeks or more at slaughter 4.7183
• aged less than 6 weeks at slaughter 2.6213
Equidae and other solipeds 4.6134
Pigs including wild boar           
• carcase weight less than 25 kg 0.5243
• carcase weight greater than or equal to 25 kg 1.3631
Sheep, goats and other ruminants not listed elsewhere in this Table           
• carcase weight less than 12 kg 0.1835
• carcase weight between 12 and 18 kg inclusive 0.3670
• carcase weight greater than 18 kg 0.5243
Poultry, rabbits, small game birds and ground game           
• all broilers; all cast hens; other poultry, rabbits, small game birds and ground game weighing less than 2 kg 0.0105
• poultry (not being broilers or cast hens), rabbits, small game birds and ground game weighing at least 2 kg (except those which are adult and weigh at least 5 kg) 0.0210
• poultry (not being broilers or cast hens), rabbits, small game birds and ground game (all being adult) and weighing at least 5 kg 0.0419
Ostriches and other ratites 1.3631
Land mammals and birds of a type not mentioned above 1.3631

     5. The standard charge for any accounting period (expressed in Euros) payable by the operator of a cutting plant or of a game-handling establishment in respect of meat brought into the plant or establishment during that period for the purposes of being cut up and/or boned there shall be calculated by multiplying by 3.1455 the number of tonnes of such meat.

     6. The standard charge (expressed in Euros) shall be converted into Sterling by multiplying it by the Euro/Sterling conversion rate applicable in the year in which the official controls giving rise to the charge were carried out.

     7. —(1) Where in respect of an accounting period the Agency incurs increased costs because of inefficiency in the operation of premises, it may, in accordance with this paragraph, add an additional charge to the standard charge incurred in relation to the premises for that period.

    (2) The additional charge shall be a sum equal to the time costs generated by the inefficiency for the accounting period concerned.

    (3) The Agency may not make an additional charge in accordance with this paragraph unless it has notified the operator of its intention to do so.

    (4) The notification referred to in sub-paragraph (3) shall be given as soon as is practicable after the Agency has concluded that it wishes to make an additional charge in accordance with this paragraph.

    (5) For the purposes of this paragraph "inefficiency" means inefficiency on the part of the operator and shall include in particular–

    (6) For the purposes of sub paragraph (5)(d), (e) and (g), the Agency and the operator shall agree working hours and working practices and shall keep the working hours and working practices so agreed under review.

    (7) Where, following any such review, it appears to the Agency and the operator that it is appropriate to do so, they may by further agreement vary any working hours or working practices agreed pursuant to sub paragraph (6).

    (8) Where any working hours or working practices have been varied pursuant to sub paragraph (7) they shall be treated as having been agreed pursuant to sub paragraph (6).

    (9) No additional charge may be made in accordance with this paragraph in respect of any increased costs incurred because of any variation in working hours or working practices which does not alter the working hours or working practices which have been agreed in accordance with sub paragraph (6).

     8. —(1) An operator who does not agree that an additional charge is justified under paragraph 7 may request that the question be determined by a person nominated for the purpose pursuant to sub paragraph (3)(a).

    (2) A request under sub paragraph (1) shall be made within 1 week of the Agency giving the operator notice under paragraph 7(3).

    (3) Where an operator makes a request under sub paragraph (1)–

    (4) The Agency shall establish and maintain a list of people who may be nominated for the purposes of this paragraph and shall consult those organisations appearing to represent operators before including any person on the list.

Time costs
     9. The time costs generated by any premises in any accounting period shall (subject to paragraphs 10 and 11) be calculated by–

     10. The time costs in respect of any official controls shall include any overtime payments or other similar allowances made to the inspector concerned under that inspector's contract of employment or contract for services for exercising those official controls.

     11. In determining the total time spent in exercising official controls, any time spent by an inspector–

     12. The Agency shall determine the hourly rate applicable to inspectors, and may determine different rates for different inspectors or different classes of inspector, having regard to the level of qualifications and experience of different inspectors or classes of inspector and to the cost of exercising official controls by different inspectors or classes of inspector.

     13. The hourly rate for any inspector or class of inspector shall be calculated so as to reflect such proportion of the costs of the items listed in Annex VI to Regulation 882/2004 incurred by that inspector or class of inspector in exercising official controls (excluding any additional costs taken into account pursuant to paragraph 10) as the Agency considers it proper to apportion to that hourly rate.

     14. The Agency may vary any rate determined pursuant to paragraph 12 where, having regard to variations in the costs referred to in paragraph 13, it appears to it to be necessary to do so.

     15. Prior to determining or varying hourly rates in accordance with paragraphs 12 to 14, the Agency shall consult such operators as are likely to be affected by those rates.

Definitions
     16. In this Schedule–



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)


These Regulations extend to Scotland only. They revoke and replace the Meat (Official Controls Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/580).

The Regulations give effect in Scotland of Articles 26 and 27 of Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004, in so far as those provisions require fees to be collected to cover the costs occasioned by official controls. Provisions in Directive 85/73/EEC, in relation to the rates currently applied, shall continue to apply for a transitional period until 1st January 2008. These official controls are performed, firstly, on meat of domestic ungulates, meat from poultry and lagomorphs, meat of farmed game and meat of wild game under Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 and, secondly, to verify compliance with the animal welfare rules set out in Council Directive 93/119/EC (O.J. No. L 340, 31.12.93, p.21), in so far as they apply in relation to animals slaughtered for human consumption at slaughterhouses.

The Regulations–

Schedule 2 to the Regulations sets out how the official controls charge is to be calculated.

A full regulatory impact assessment, which includes a compliance cost assessment of the effect which these Regulations would have on business costs, has been prepared for these Regulations and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Copies may be obtained from the Food Standards Agency (Scotland), 6th Floor, St Magnus House, 25 Guild Street, Aberdeen AB11 6NJ.


Notes:

[1] 1972 c.68; section 2(2) was modified by the Scotland Act 1998 (c.46) ("the 1998 Act"), section 125 and Schedule 8, paragraph 15. The function conferred on the Minister of the Crown under section 2(2), so far as within devolved competence, was transferred to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 of the 1998 Act. In so far as not so transferred and in so far as relating to food (including drink) including the primary production of food, that function was transferred to the Scottish Ministers by the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/849).back

[2] O.J. No. L 31, 1.2.02, p.1, as amended by Regulation (EC) No. 1642/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (O.J. No. L 245, 29.9.03, p.4) and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 575/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the number and names of the permanent Scientific Panels of the European Food Safety Authority (O.J. No. L 100, 8.4.06, p.3).back

[3] Established under section 1 of the Food Standards Act 1999 (c.28).back

[4] S.I. 1995/539, revoked with effect from 1st January 2006 by S.S.I. 2005/505.back

[5] S.I. 1995/540, revoked with effect from 1st January 2006 by S.S.I. 2005/505.back

[6] 1992 c.4.back

[7] S.I. 1995/2148, revoked with effect from 1st January 2006 by S.S.I. 2005/505.back

[8] S.I. 1995/731, amended by S.I. 1999/400 and 1820, S.S.I. 2000/62, 2001/73 and 145, 2002/238, 2004/13 and 2006/536.back

[9] S.S.I. 2006/580.back

[10] O.J. No. L 157, 30.4.04, p.33. The revised text of Directive 2004/41/EC is set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 195, 2.6.04, p.12).back

[11] O.J. No. L 31, 1.2.02, p.1.back

[12] O.J. No. L 139, 30.4.04, p.1. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 is set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 226, 25.6.04, p.3).back

[13] O.J. No. L 139, 30.4.04, p.55. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 is set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 226, 25.6.04, p.22).back

[14] O.J. No. L 139, 30.4.04, p.206. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 is set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 226, 25.6.04, p.83).back

[15] O.J. No. L 165, 30.4.04, p.1. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 is set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 191, 28.5.04, p.1).back

[16] O.J. No. L 271, 15.10.05, p.17.back

[17] O.J. No. L 338, 22.12.05, p.1. The text of Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 is subject to Corrigenda (O.J. No. L 278, 10.10.06, p.32 and O.J. No. L 283, 14.10.06, p.62).back

[18] O.J. No. L 338, 22.12.05, p.27.back

[19] O.J. No. L 338, 22.12.05, p.60.back

[20] O.J. No. L 338, 22.12.05, p.83.back

[21] O.J. No. L 136, 24.5.06, p.3.back

[22] O.J. No. L 320, 18.11.06, p.1.back

[23] O.J. No. L 320, 18.11.06, p.11.back

[24] O.J. No. L 320, 18.11.06, p.13.back

[25] O.J. No. L 320, 18.11.06, p.46.back

[26] O.J. No. L 320, 18.11.06, p.47.back

[27] O.J. No. L 363, 20.12.06, p.1.back



ISBN 978 0 11 072064 7


 © Crown copyright 2007

Prepared 28 March 2007


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