Explanatory note

This scheme increases from 0·52p to 0·8p per gallon the payments made by Milk Marketing Boards in the United Kingdom under the provisions of the Milk (Eradication of Brucellosis) Scheme 1970. The higher rate will apply only to milk sold or deemed to have been produced on or after 1st April 1971.

It prescribes the periods during which milk will qualify for these payments. For herds in Great Britain in respect of which payment is already being made the new rate will apply for five years from 1st April 1971. For herds becoming accredited after that date, and automatically authorised, or whose owners apply promptly for authorisation, the qualifying period will be five years from the beginning of the month following that in which the herd is found clear of the disease. For owners who delay application for authorisation for more than a month, the qualifying period will be correspondingly reduced. For herds in Northern Ireland the period will be two years instead of five.

The definition of “accredited herd” has been amended to include herds constituted from animals transferred from other accredited herds in Great Britain or from similar herds outside Great Britain provided the herds have been the subject of adequate precautions against the introduction or re-introduction and consequent spreading of the disease.