Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Welfare Food Regulations 1988 (the principal Regulations).

Regulation 2 amends the definition of “approved price” so as to relate it to the price the supplier charges any of his retail customers; deletes the definitions of “metropolitan police district”, “processor” and “standard reimbursement price”; amends the definition of “milk” to omit the reference to “processor” and the definition of “supplier” to restrict it to a person who supplies milk under the principal Regulations and inserts definitions of “total retail milk supply” and “welfare milk supply”.

Regulation 3 removes the provision enabling persons involved in the supply of milk against milk tokens to obtain reimbursement from those from whom they obtained the milk to which the Regulations apply and amends the amount of standard reimbursement which may be claimed to the approved price less 9 per cent.

Regulation 4 introduces a provision whereby suppliers of milk against milk tokens may apply to the Secretary of State for approval to participate in arrangements for special reimbursement i.e. at the approved price less a percentage (based on the supplier’s previous welfare milk supply in relation to his total retail milk supply) which will apply to tokens submitted for reimbursement within a period of one year following the date of the application for approval.

Regulation 5 makes a consequential amendment to regulation 17 of the principal Regulations (powers of an authorised officer) to reflect the addition of regulation 15A to the principal Regulations.

Regulation 6 replaces Schedule 5 to the principal Regulations (incidental obligations on suppliers claiming reimbursement) as a consequence of the other amendments made by these Regulations and inserts a Schedule 5A into the principal Regulations. The new Schedule 5A sets out the manner in which an application for the special rates of reimbursement is to be made and how the percentage reduction of the approved price will be determined in cases where an approval has been given.

Regulation 7 contains a transitional provision in relation to milk tokens the period of validity of which begins before these Regulations come into force.