Explanatory note

These Regulations provide for payments by the appropriate Minister (defined in regulation 2) to producers in the United Kingdom in pursuance of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2443/96 (OJ No. L333, 21.12.96, p.2),, which permits Member States to make additional payments to producers in the beef and veal sector.

Payment may be made in respect of a veal calf sold after 19th March 1996 and before 10th November 1996 for slaughter for human consumption, provided that no payment was made under the Beef (Marketing Payment) Regulations 1996 or the Beef (Marketing Payment) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 in respect of that calf.

Regulation 5 requires a producer who has made an application under the Regulations to retain for four years specified records relating to the animals in respect of which he made the application. Regulation 6 confers on authorised persons powers of entry and inspection as well as powers of seizure and retention of records, and regulation 7 requires that such assistance as may be reasonably requested by authorised persons be given by applicants for payments and their employees and agents.

Regulation 8 specifies the circumstances in which payments made to a producer may be recovered by the appropriate Minister and regulation 9 provides for the payment of interest on overdue payments. Regulation 10 creates offences and prescribes penalties. Regulation 11 specifies time limits for bringing prosecutions and regulation 12 makes provision for dealing with offences committed by corporate bodies and Scottish partnerships.