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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS


2005 No. 3370 (W.267)

FOOD, WALES

The Meat (Official Controls) (Charges) (Wales) Regulations 2005

  Made 6 December 2005 
  Coming into force 1 January 2006 

The National Assembly for Wales, being designated[1] for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972[2] in relation to measures relating to food (including drink) including the primary production of food, in exercise of the powers conferred by that section, after open and transparent public consultation during the preparation of these Regulations 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[3], makes the following Regulations:

Title, commencement and application
     1. The title of these Regulations is the Meat (Official Controls) (Charges) (Wales) Regulations 2005, they come into force on 1 January 2006, and apply in relation to Wales.

Interpretation
    
2. —(1) In these Regulations—

Charges
     3. —(1) The Agency must, 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 possible 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 must 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 must calculate that charge and—

    (4) Any charge notified to an operator under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) will be payable by the operator to the Agency on demand.

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

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

Withdrawal of official controls
    
4. Where the Agency has had judgment entered against an operator of any premises for any sum which is payable under regulation 3(4) and the operator fails within a reasonable time thereafter to satisfy the judgment, the Agency may (regardless of any other legal remedy open to it) refuse to exercise any further official controls at those premises until the judgment has been satisfied.

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

    (2) Any person who—

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

Revocation
    
6. The Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Charges) Regulations 1998[9] are revoked.



Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998[10].


D. Elis-Thomas
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly

6 December 2005



SCHEDULE 1
Regulation 2(1)


DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNITY LEGISLATION


"Directive 2004/41" ("Cyfarwyddeb 2004/41") means Directive 2004/41/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council repealing certain directives concerning food hygiene and health conditions for the production and placing on the market of certain products of animal origin intended for human consumption and amending Council Directives 89/662/EEC and 92/118/EEC and Council Decision 95/408/EC[
11];

"Regulation 178/2002" ("Rheoliad 178/2002") means 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 as last 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;

"Regulation 852/2004" ("Rheoliad 852/2004") means Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the hygiene of foodstuffs[12] as read with Regulation A and Regulation B;

"Regulation 853/2004" ("Rheoliad 853/2004") means Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin[13] as amended by Regulation C and Regulation E and as read with Directive 2004/41, Regulation A, Regulation C and Regulation E;

"Regulation 854/2004" ("Rheoliad 854/2004") means Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption[14] as amended by Regulation 882/2004, Regulation C and Regulation E and as read with Directive 2004/41, Regulation C, Regulation D and Regulation E;

"Regulation 882/2004" ("Rheoliad 882/2004") means Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules[15] as read with Regulation C and Regulation E;

"Regulation A" ("Rheoliad A") means the Commission Regulation of 20 July 2005 implementing Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards special guarantees concerning salmonella for consignments to Finland and Sweden of certain meat and eggs;

"Regulation B" ("Rheoliad B") means the Commission Regulation of 23 September 2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs;

"Regulation C" ("Rheoliad C") means the Commission Regulation of 23 September 2005 laying down implementing measures for certain products under Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, for the organisation of official controls under Regulations (EC) Nos. 854/2004 and 882/2004, derogating from Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 and amending Regulations (EC) Nos. 853/2004 and 854/2004;

"Regulation D" ("Rheoliad D") means the Commission Regulation of 23 September 2005 laying down specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat; and

"Regulation E" ("Rheoliad E") means the Commission Regulation of 5 October 2005 laying down transitional arrangements for the implementation of Regulations (EC) No. 853/2004, (EC) Nos. 854/2004 and 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Regulations (EC) Nos. 853/2004 and 854/2004.



SCHEDULE 2
Regulation 2(1)


CALCULATION OF THE OFFICIAL CONTROLS CHARGE


The official controls charge
     1. Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the official controls charge payable by the operator of any premises for any accounting period is 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 is the amount by which amount D exceeds amount B.

    (3) In this paragraph "financial period" means a period commencing on the Monday immediately following the last Sunday in March in any year and ending on the last Sunday in March in the following year.

     3. The official controls charge payable by the operator of a slaughterhouse, game-handling establishment or cutting plant for any accounting period will not be lower than 45% of the standard charge incurred in relation to those premises for that period.

Species Type Rate per type of animal in Euros
Bovines bovine animals aged 6 weeks or more at slaughter 4.5
           bovine animals aged less than 6 weeks old at slaughter 2.5
Equidae and other solipeds            4.4
Pigs including wild boar carcase weight less than 25 kg 0.5
           carcase weight greater than or equal to 25 kg 1.3
Sheep, goats and other ruminants not listed elsewhere in this Table carcase weight less than 12 kg 0.175
           carcase weight between 12 and 18 kg inclusive 0.35
           carcase weight greater than 18 kg 0.5
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 0.01
           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) 0.02
           poultry (not being broilers or cast hens), rabbits, small game birds and ground game (all being adult) and weighing at least 5 kg 0.04
Ostriches and other ratites            1.3
Land mammals and birds of a type not mentioned above            1.3

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

     5. The standard charge for an accounting period (expressed in Euros) payable by the operator of a game-handling establishment in respect of wild game dressed there during that period will be calculated by multiplying the rate given in the following Table applicable to animals of a particular type by the number of animals of that type dressed there in the period.

     6. The standard charge for any accounting period (expressed in Euros) payable by the operator of a cutting plant or game-handling establishment will be calculated by multiplying by 3 the number of tonnes of meat brought into the plant or establishment concerned during that period to be cut up or boned there.

     7. The standard charge (expressed in Euros) will be converted into sterling by multiplying it by the Euro / sterling conversion rate applicable in the year the inspection was carried out.

     8. —(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 will 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) must 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 includes in particular—

    (6) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (5)(d), (e) and (g), the Agency and the operator must agree working hours and working practices and 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 must 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).

     9. —(1) An operator who does not agree that an additional charge is justified under paragraph 8 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) must be made within 1 week of the Agency giving the operator notice under paragraph 8(3).

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

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

Time costs
     10. The time costs generated by any premises in any accounting period will (subject to paragraphs 11 and 12) be calculated by—

     11. The time costs in respect of any official controls must include any overtime payments or other similar allowances made to the inspector concerned under his or her contract of employment or contract for services for exercising those official controls.

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

     13. The Agency must 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 in respect of different inspectors or classes of inspector.

     14. The hourly rate for any inspector or class of inspector must be calculated so as to reflect—

     15. For the purposes of paragraph 14(b), "administrative costs" means all costs reasonably incurred in exercising official controls including in particular the costs of—

     16. The Agency may vary any rate determined pursuant to paragraph 13 where, having regard to the factors set out in paragraphs 14 and 15, it appears to it to be necessary to do so.

     17. Prior to determining or varying hourly rates in accordance with paragraphs 13 to 16, the Agency must consult such operators as are likely to be affected by those rates.

Definitions
     18. —(1) In this Schedule—

    (2) Expressions used in this Schedule, other than those defined in sub-paragraph (1), which are used in Council Directive 85/73/EEC on the financing of veterinary inspections and controls covered by Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 90/675/EEC and 91/496/EEC (as amended and consolidated by Council Directive 96/43/EC[16]) have the same meaning as in the first-mentioned Directive.



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)


     1. These Regulations apply in relation to Wales. They revoke the Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Charges) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/2095, as amended by S.I. 2000/656, S.I. 2001/1302 (W.79), and S.I. 2001/3831 (W.317)), which extend to the whole of Great Britain, in so far as they apply in relation to Wales.

     2. The Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Charges) Regulations 1998 implemented in relation to Great Britain the provisions of Council Directive 85/73/EEC on the financing of veterinary inspections and controls that require fees to be collected for inspections of and controls on fresh red meat, fresh poultry meat, rabbit meat, farmed game meat and wild game meat under certain Council Directives. An amended and consolidated text of Council Directive 85/73/EEC is annexed to Council Directive 96/43/EC at OJ No. L162, 1.7.96, p.1.

     3. In the light of reforms to the Community regime governing food hygiene that take effect on 1 January 2006, Directive 2004/41/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No. L157, 30.4.2004, p.33; the revised text of Directive 2004/41/EC is now set out in a Corrigendum, OJ No. L195, 2.6.2004, p.12) modifies Council Directive 85/73/EEC with effect from 1 January 2006 so that from that date it requires fees to be collected for official controls on meat of domestic ungulates, meat from poultry and lagomorphs, meat of farmed game and wild game meat under Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 of the European Parliament of the Council laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption (OJ No. L139, 30.4.2004, p.206; the revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 is now set out in a Corrigendum, OJ No. L226, 25.6.2004, p.83).

     4. In the light of the modification to Council Directive 85/73/EEC described in paragraph 3, these Regulations implement the provisions of that Directive that now require fees to be collected for inspections of and controls on meat of domestic ungulates, meat from poultry and lagomorphs, meat of farmed game and wild game meat under Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004.

     5. These Regulations—

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

     7. A full regulatory appraisal has not been produced for this Instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.


Notes:

[1] S.I. 2005/1971.back

[2] 1972 c. 68.back

[3] OJ No. L31, 1.2.2002, p.1. That Regulation was last amended by Regulation (EC) No. 1642/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No. L245, 29.9.2003, p.4).back

[4] S.I. 1995/539, revoked with effect from 1st January 2006 by S.I. 2005/2059back

[5] S.I. 1995/540, revoked with effect from 1st January 2006 by S.I. 2005/2059.back

[6] 1992 c.4.back

[7] S.1. 1995/2148, revoked with effect from 1 January 2006 by S.I. 2005/3292 (W.252).back

[8] S.I. 1995/731.back

[9] S.I. 1998/2095, amended by S.I. 2000/656, S.I. 2001/1302 (W.79) and S.I. 2001/3831 (W.317).back

[10] 1998 c.38.back

[11] OJ No. L157, 30.4.2004, p.33. The revised text of Directive 2004/41/EC is now set out in a Corrigendum (OJ No. L195, 2.6.2004, p.12).back

[12] OJ No. L139, 30.4.2004, p.1. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 is now set out in a Corrigendum (OJ No. L226, 25.6.2004, p.3).back

[13] OJ No. L139, 30.4.2004, p.55. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 is now set out in a Corrigendum (OJ No. L226, 25.6.2004, p.22).back

[14] OJ No. L139, 30.4.2004, p.206. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 is now set out in a Corrigendum (OJ No. L226, 25.6.2004, p.83).back

[15] OJ No. L165, 30.4.2004, p.1. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 is now set out in a Corrigendum (OJ No. L191, 28.5.2004, p.1).back

[16] The text of Council Directive 85/73/EEC is annexed to Council Directive 96/43/EC at OJ No. L162, 1.7.96, p.1. Council Directive 85/73/EEC has been modified by Directive 2004/41/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No. L157, 30.4.2004, p.33); the revised text of Directive 2004/41/EC is now set out in a Corrigendum (OJ No. L195, 2.6.2004, p.12).back



Cymraeg (Welsh)



ISBN 0 11 091248 9


 © Crown copyright 2005

Prepared 6 January 2006


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