Explanatory note

This Order, which comes into force on 1st April 2004, further amends the Milk Development Council Order 1995 (S.I.1995/356). The Council continues to have the power to require producers to furnish returns and information. In relation to Case B producers, this Order requires the Council to estimate milk production where an annual return is required and not submitted within one month of the end of a production year. It also enables the Council to increase that estimate by up to 10% in certain circumstances. Case B producers are producers who are required to pay a charge to the Council directly, rather than to a milk purchaser as agent for the Council.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the Library of each House of Parliament, in the Library of the National Assembly for Wales and in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Copies may be obtained from the Milk, Pigs, Eggs and Poultry Division of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Area 5D, 9 Millbank, c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, the Agriculture and Fisheries Policy Division, National Assembly for Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, Pentland House, 47 Robb’s Loan, Edinburgh EH14 1TY.