Explanatory note

These Regulations make provision for consolidation and increase of several fees payable to the Welsh Ministers in the field of animal health into one statutory instrument. The fees are collected by an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs known as the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA). They apply in relation to Wales.

The fees in regulation 4 and Schedule 1 are payable in relation to activities required under Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 and in accordance with salmonella national control programmes for poultry. The Control of Salmonella in Poultry (Wales) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/524 (W.50)) is amended by regulation 4.

The fees in regulation 6 and Schedule 2 are payable in relation to approvals for the purpose of the poultry health scheme established under Council Directive 2009/158/EC and the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations (Wales) 2011 (S.I. 2011/2379 (W.252)).

The fees in regulation 7 and Schedule 3 are payable in relation to approvals for the purpose of obtaining bovine semen in accordance with the Bovine Semen (Wales) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1040 (W.110)), which are amended by regulation 7.

The fees in regulation 8 and Schedule 4 are payable in relation to approvals for the purpose of obtaining porcine semen in accordance with the Artificial Insemination of Pigs (England and Wales) Regulations 1964 (S.I. 1964/1172) and the Artificial Insemination of Pigs (EEC) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/3161).

The fees in regulation 9 and Schedule 5 are payable in relation to approvals for the purpose of collection, production and transfer of bovine embryos in accordance with the Bovine Embryo (Collection, Production and Transfer) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/2478).

The fees in regulation 10 and Schedule 6 are payable in relation to inspection of consignments of live animals at border inspection posts in accordance with the Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2379 (W.252)).

These Regulations revoke existing fee instruments in relation to animal health (regulation 11).

The fee levels provided for in this instrument form part of a phased move towards full cost recovery of fees as explained in the Explanatory Memorandum. Some fees are substantially increased from existing fees because they have remained unchanged for many years. A detailed comparison of the existing and new fees is provided in an annex to the Explanatory Memorandum.

The Welsh Ministers' Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained by emailing [email protected].