Explanatory note

These Regulations make provision for the enforcement of certain of the requirements of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 716/96, adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market in the United Kingdom. The Regulation authorises the United Kingdom to purchase any bovine animal aged over 30 months which does not exhibit any clinical sign of BSE and which was, during a period of at least three months prior to its sale, present on a holding located on United Kingdom territory. Various requirements are specified as to the slaughter, treatment and disposal of animals subject to the scheme.

Regulation 3 creates offences in respect of breaches of the provisions of the Commission Regulation referred to in Column 1 (and described in Column 2) of the Schedule to the Regulations. Penalties are specified for such offences (regulation 4).