Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Hops Certification Regulations 1979 (“the principal Regulations”) following amendment of the applicable European Community provisions (regulation 3). They apply throughout the United Kingdom and come into force on 5th November 1991.
The Regulations amend the Community designation of hop cones (regulations 4(a) and 5(a)) and also make the following amendments of substance:—
the arrangements with regard to the issue of control attestations for hop cones which are imported from third countries unaccompanied by an attestation of equivalence will apply only for hop cones imported on or before 30th April 1992; hop cones so imported must be accompanied by a declaration as required by Article 4(3) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3076/78 (OJ No L 367, 28.12.78, p.17) as amended (regulations 4(a) and 5(a));
inspectors may also be appointed for the verification of the minimum marketing requirements for hops and hop products imported from third countries and an inspector may take with him such other persons as he considers necessary (regulation 6(a) and (c));
failure to provide the information as required by Article 8a(3) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 890/78 (OJ No L 117, 29.4.78, p.43) or obstruction of an inspector or certifying officer seeking such information is an offence (regulations 8);
the term “certificate” in regulation 9 of the principal Regulations (which creates offences of removing, falsifying, etc marks or certificates and making or using false entries in records) has been extended to include an attestation of equivalence or a control attestation (regulation 11); and
the maximum penalty for certain offences has been increased (regulations 4(b), 5(b), 10 and 11(b)).