Explanatory note

This Order amends the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/576), which establishes the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (“the Board”). 

Article 3 expands the scope of the agricultural and related industries in relation to which the Board is permitted to carry out functions.

Articles 4 and 7 relate to the levies which the Board must impose in relation to certain industries. Article 4 removes the obligation for the appropriate authority (defined in section 96 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, c. 16) to approve the levy rate annually. Instead, only new levy rates, which may be imposed at any time, require approval. The amendments made by article 4 also allow the Board, with the approval of the appropriate authority, to charge a levy rate of zero for a period of time in exceptional cases.

Article 7 amends the maximum levy rates for the levy category of sheep, makes provision allowing the Board to reduce levies to cover administrative costs, and amends the time-frame within which persons liable to pay the Board a levy under this Order must do so.

Article 5 amends the rules regarding eligibility to vote in relation to the pig levy, so that persons who keep pigs in England may only vote if they pay the producer levy related to pigs.

The amendments made by article 6 ensure that a Board member may be reappointed to a particular position on the Board once only.

Article 8 makes relevant transitional provision.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.