Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/2097, as already amended) in so far as they extend to England. The 1996 Regulations extend to the whole of Great Britain.

These Regulations provide for the enforcement of Article 2.1 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2777/2000 adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market (OJ No. L321, 19.12.2000, p. 47). That Article, which is applicable until 30th June 2001 at the latest, provides that meat from bovine animals aged more than 30 months and slaughtered in the Community after 1st January 2001 can only be released for human consumption or for export if tested negatively for bovine spongiform encephalopathy by an approved rapid test as referred to in Annex IV(A) of Commission Decision 98/272/EC (OJ No. L122, 24.4.98, p. 59, as amended). Annex IV(A) was inserted into that Decision by Commission Decision 2000/374/EC (OJ No. L135, 8.6.2000, p. 27).

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations. A copy of it has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Further copies of the assessment can be obtained from the Meat Hygiene Division of the Food Standards Agency, Ergon House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 3WG.