Explanatory note

These Regulations make provision for the enforcement of certain of the requirements of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 716/96 (“the Commission Regulation”), adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market in the United Kingdom, as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2109/2005. The Commission Regulation authorises the United Kingdom to purchase a bovine animal born or reared within the United Kingdom before 1 August 1996 which does not exhibit any clinical sign of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and which was, during a period of at least six months prior to its sale, present on a holding located in United Kingdom territory. Various requirements are specified as to the slaughter, treatment and disposal of animals.

Offences are created in respect of breaches of the provisions of the Commission Regulation referred to in column 1 (and described in column 2) of the Schedule to the Regulations (regulation 3).

The Regulations provide enforcement powers for inspectors, establish offences and provide the penalties for such offences (regulations 4 to 8).