Explanatory note

This Order creates a new body, the Welsh Levy Board (“the Board”) which has functions and duties relating to the beef, sheep and pig industries in Wales. The Order contains provisions for the constitution and proceedings of the Board.

The Board may raise levies relating to each industry (article 6). Details of payment of the levies, and the maximum permitted levy, are set out in Schedule 3. Under that Schedule, failure to make a return relating to a levy is an offence.

If demanded by a set number of levy payers, the Board must hold a ballot on whether or not the levy system should continue (articles 11 and 12).

There are offences relating to the provision of information to the Welsh Levy Board and record-keeping (article 14).

The penalty for breach of the Order is a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000).

A full regulatory appraisal of the effect that this instrument will have is available from the Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NW.