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Explanatory note

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/3124) (the principal Regulations), which implement the Community’s veterinary checks regime for products of animal origin.

These Regulations implement EC requirements on standard rates of charge for veterinary inspections of imports of products of animal origin from third countries.

In relation to imports of specified meat and fishery products from third countries other than New Zealand, these Regulations implement the standard minimum charges which are specified in Annex A, Chapter II and Chapter III, section 2 of Council Directive 96/43/EC amending and consolidating Directive 85/73/EEC in order to ensure financing of veterinary inspections and controls of live animals and certain animal products and amending Directives 90/675/EEC and 91/496/EEC (OJ No. L162, 1.7.96, p.1) (see regulation 5(c) and (d) and Schedule 2).

In relation to imports of products of animal origin from New Zealand, these Regulations implement the standard minimum charges which are specified in Annex VIII B II of the New Zealand Equivalence Agreement (defined in regulation 3(1)(d)) (see regulation 5(e) and Schedule 2).

These Regulations also modify Schedule 4 to the principal Regulations (cost factors to be taken into account) in relation to charges other than those described above (see regulation 5(a) and (b) and Schedule 1).

The charges in new Schedules 4A, B and C are in European Currency Units, which are to be converted into sterling using a specified formula (see regulation 6).

To enable representatives of the New Zealand authorities to act under the Equivalence Agreement, the powers of authorised officers in regulation 6 of the principal Regulations have been amended (see regulation 4).

These Regulations also make some minor and consequential amendments to the principal Regulations (see regulations 3 and 7).

A Regulatory Appraisal in relation to these Regulations has been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament, and copies can be obtained from the International Trade Unit (Animal Products) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Government Buildings, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 7NF.