Explanatory note

Northern Ireland

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations, which come into operation on 31st March 2007, amend the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 2005 No. 70) (“the 2005 Regulations”).

The 2005 Regulations implement Council Regulation (EC) No. 1788/2003 establishing a levy in the milk and milk products sector (O.J. No. L270, 21.10.2003, p.123) as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No. 1406/2006 (O.J. No. L265, 26.9.2006, p.8), and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 595/2004 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No. 1788/2003 establishing a levy in the milk and milk products sector (O.J. No. L 94, 31.3.2004, p.22), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1468/2006 (O.J. No. L274, 5.10.2006,p.6) (“the Commission Regulation”).

Regulation 3—

(i)

updates the references to Community legislation;

(ii)

removes the reference to the agent of a quota holder in respect of inspection of registers;

(iii)

amends the requirement to submit a notice to the Department, on the transfer of quota with the transfer of land, by lease and otherwise, on two different dates, to require submission by a single date, the 31^st March, in both cases;

(iv)

amends the date from when unpaid levy may be recovered;

(v)

amends the administrative penalty procedure on late submission of summaries of deliveries by milk purchasers in accordance with changes to the Commission Regulation;

(vi)

amends the administrative penalty procedure on late submission of declarations of direct sales to remove the provision on confiscation of quota since this is fully set out in the amended Commission Regulation;

(vii)

amends the record keeping requirements for direct sellers of milk and milk products.