Explanatory note

These regulations which come into operation on 1st September 1984 (regulation 1) supersede the Poultry Meat (Water Content) Regulations 1982 and supplement the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2967/76, laying down common standards for the water content of frozen and deep-frozen chickens, hens and cocks, and Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2785/80, introducing detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2967/76. In addition the regulations implement in part article 5 of Council Directive No 83/643/EEC on the facilitation of physical inspections and administrative formalities in respect of carriage of goods between Member States.

The regulations, which provide for the enforcement of articles 1 and 2 of the Council Regulation and of articles 2 and 4 of the Commission Regulation—

1. (a)

   designate the authorities which are to enforce the Community Regulations (regulation 3);

2. (b)

   specify the powers of authorised officers of enforcement authorities (regulation 4);

3. (c)

   require poultry carcases to be marked so as to identify the slaughterhouse from which they originate (regulation 5);

4. (d)

   allow importers to require the inspection of imported poultry carcases out of business hours and enforcement authorities to make reasonable charges for providing such services (regulation 6);

5. (e)

   require a notice of intended prosecution to be served on proposed defendants in certain cases (regulation 7);

6. (f)

   prescribe procedures for analysis and counter-analysis (regulations 8 and 9);

7. (g)

   specify the method of analysis and counter-analysis (regulation 10);

8. (h)

   prescribe offences and penalties (regulation 11);

9. (i)

   require enforcement authorities to provide the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with such information as he may require (regulation 12); and

10. (j)

    make ancillary provisions (regulations 13–17).

These regulations apply to England and Wales only.