Statutory Rule 1999 No. 308

      Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999


      © Crown Copyright 1999

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STATUTORY RULES OF NORTHERN IRELAND


1999 No. 308

AGRICULTURE

Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

  Made 30th June 1999 
  Coming into operation 29th July 1999 


ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

1. Citation and commencement
2. Interpretation
3. Trade in live bovine animals, bovine embryos, mammalian meat and bone meal and related products
4. Trade in meat, products, by-products and materials derived from animals slaughtered in the United Kingdom
5. Trade in meat, products, by-products and materials derived from bovine animals slaughtered outside the United Kingdom
6. Registration of establishments for the production of controlled bovine by-products
7. Requirements imposed on the operator of an establishment registered under regulation 6(2)
8. Production of bovine by-products and consignment and placing on the market of bovine meat, products and certain by-products
9. Use of controlled bovine by-products and other products
10. Approval of establishments for the slaughter of DBES eligible animals and ECHS animals
11. Requirements imposed on the operator of an establishment approved under regulation 10(3)
12. Approval of establishments for the preparation or despatch of foreign origin export eligible goods, DBES goods and ECHS goods and foreign origin bovine by-products
13. Requirements imposed on the operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2)
14. Fees
15. Powers to stop and search vehicles and vessels and detain goods
16. Powers of entry
17. Seizure of illegal goods
18. Sampling and other checks and examinations
19. Powers of customs officers to detain vehicles and vessels
20. Suspension notices and orders
21. Obstruction
22. Offences and penalties
23. Enforcement
24. Amendments
25. Revocation of the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 and savings provisions.

SCHEDULES

  Schedule 1  -  Required methods of operation for DBES or ECHS slaughterhouses

  Schedule 2  -  Required methods of operation for the preparation of export eligible goods in export dedicated establishments

  Schedule 3  -  Required methods of operation for the preparation of foreign origin export eligible goods in establishments which are not export dedicated establishments

  Schedule 4  -  Additional mark for foreign origin export eligible goods

  Schedule 5  -  Additional mark for DBES goods, ECHS goods prepared in Northern Ireland, goods containing any DBES goods or ECHS goods (whether or not prepared in Northern Ireland), or foreign origin export eligible goods consisting of, or derived from, fresh meat which has been deboned and from which all adherent tissues, including obvious nervous and lymphatic tissues, have been removed.

The Department of Agriculture, being a Department designated[
1] for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972[2] in relation to the common agricultural policy of the European Community, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by the said section 2(2) and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement
     1. These Regulations may be cited as the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and shall come into operation on 29th July 1999.

Interpretation
    
2.  - (1) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954[3] shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

    (2) In these Regulations - 

    "additional mark" means - 

    (a) in relation to any foreign origin export eligible goods which are not mentioned in paragraph (c) or (d) below, any mark which conforms to the design set out in Schedule 4;

    (b) in relation to - 

      (i) DBES goods; or

      (ii) ECHS goods prepared in Northern Ireland;

    any mark which conforms to the design set out in Schedule 5; and

    (c) in relation to any foreign origin export eligible goods - 

      (i) consisting of or derived from fresh meat which has been deboned and from which all adherent tissues including obvious nervous and lymphatic tissues have been removed; and

      (ii) are mixed with any DBES goods or ECHS goods,

    means any mark conforming with the design set out in Schedule 5 or two marks, one conforming with the design set out in Schedule 4 and one conforming with the design set out in Schedule 5;

    (d) in relation to any foreign origin export eligible goods - 

      (i) consisting of or derived from fresh meat which has not been deboned or from which all adherent tissues, including obvious nervous and lymphatic tissues, have not been removed; and

      (ii) which are mixed with DBES goods or ECHS goods,

    two marks, one conforming with the design set out in Schedule 4 and one conforming with the design set out in Schedule 5; and

    (e) in relation to any ECHS goods which have not undergone any stage of preparation in Northern Ireland, a mark conforming to Schedule 5 of the Great Britain Regulations;

    "bovine animal" includes any animal of the species Bubalus bubalis and Bison bison;

    "bovine embryo" means an embryo of a bovine animal;

    "Community approved border inspection post" means any place in a member State which is specified in the Annex to Commission Decision 97/778/EC drawing up a list of border inspection posts agreed for veterinary checks on products and animals from third countries;

    "controlled bovine by-product" means - 

    (a) an amino acid;

    (b) a peptide;

    (c) tallow;

    (d) tallow products not falling within paragraph (e) below; or

    (e) a product derived by saponification, transesterification or hydrolysis from tallow,

produced in the United Kingdom from any part of a bovine animal slaughtered in the United Kingdom and which is - 

      (i) liable to enter the human food chain or animal feed chain; or

      (ii) destined for use in cosmetic, medical or pharmaceutical products;

    "the Council Decision" means Council Decision 98/256/EC[4] concerning emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy as amended by Commission Decision 98/564/EC[5] and Commission Decision 98/692/EC[6];

    "DBES" means the date based export scheme referred to in Annex III to the Council Decision;

    "DBES eligible animal" means any bovine animal which satisfies the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of Annex III to the Council Decision;

    "DBES goods" means any fresh meat, minced meat, meat preparations or meat products derived from DBES eligible animals;

    "the Department" means the Department of Agriculture;

    "despatch" includes carry;

    "ECHS animal" means any bovine animal slaughtered in Northern Ireland which - 

    (a) satisfies the conditions set out in paragraphs 6 and 7 of Annex II to the Council Decision; and

    (b) originated in an ECHS herd;

    "ECHS goods" means any fresh meat, minced meat, meat preparations or meat products derived from ECHS animals;

    "ECHS herd" means a herd of bovine animals in Northern Ireland which satisfies the conditions set out in paragraphs 2 to 5 of Annex II to the Council Decision;

    "establishment" includes any premises;

    "export dedicated establishment" means an establishment approved under regulation 12(2)(a) which is not used for the preparation of any goods derived from bovine animals other than export eligible goods;

    "export eligible goods" means - 

    (a) DBES goods, ECHS goods and foreign origin export eligible goods; or

    (b) any goods containing a mixture of one or more of those types of goods and which contain no other ingredient derived from a bovine animal;

    "foreign origin bovine by-product" means any of the following by-products derived from a bovine animal not slaughtered in the United Kingdom - 

    (a) gelatin, di-calcium phosphate, tallow or tallow product not mentioned in paragraph (b) below;

    (b) a product derived from tallow by saponification, transesterification or hydrolysis; or

    (c) an amino acid, peptide or collagen,

which is liable to enter the human food or animal feed chain or is destined for use in cosmetics or medical or pharmaceutical products;

    "foreign origin export eligible goods" means - 

    (a) fresh meat;

    (b) any minced meat or meat preparation;

    (c) any meat product or other product of animal origin; or

    (d) food for domestic carnivores,

         derived from a bovine animal which was not slaughtered in the United Kingdom;

    "fresh meat" has the same meaning as in Council Directive 64/433/EEC[7];

    "the Great Britain Regulations" means the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations 1999[8];

    "inspector" means any person appointed as such by the Department for the purposes of these Regulations;

    "meat products" and "other products of animal origin" have the same meaning as in Council Directive 77/99/EEC[9];

    "minced meat" and "meat preparations" have the same meaning as in Council Directive 94/65/EC[10];

    "member State" means any member State of the European Communities other than the United Kingdom;

    "officer" means a person commissioned by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise;

    "official seal" means a seal supplied by the Department for the purpose of preventing unauthorised access to export eligible goods;

    "operator" in respect of an establishment for which an approval or registration is required under these Regulations, means the person carrying on or proposing to carry on a business there for which the approval or registration is required;

    "premises" includes any place, stall or moveable structure;

    "prepare" in relation to any foreign origin export eligible goods, DBES goods or ECHS goods (otherwise than when they are under official control) means the - 

    (a) manufacture;

    (b) production;

    (c) processing or treatment (in whatever manner);

    (d) packaging or re-packaging;

    (e) presentation, labelling or re-labelling or wrapping or re-wrapping;

    (f) storage at ambient temperature, or cold temperature, other than keeping in a sealed means of transport (or in any lockable chamber or lockable container carried on a sealed means of transport) for any period when the goods are accompanied by a veterinary certificate issued in accordance with the requirements of these Regulations in relation to the despatch of the goods from Northern Ireland;

    (g) handling; and

    (h) loading or unloading,

         of any such goods;

    "suspension notice" and "suspension order" shall be construed in accordance with regulation 20;

    "third country" means any State which is not a member of the European Community;

    "vertebral column" includes any part thereof;

    "veterinary inspector" means a person appointed as such by the Department for the purposes of these Regulations;

    (3) In these Regulations other expressions which are also used in the Council Decision have the same meaning as in that Decision.

    (4) Any reference in these Regulations to an instrument of the European Communities is a reference to that instrument as amended at the date of the coming into operation of these Regulations.

Trade in live bovine animals, bovine embryos, mammalian meat and bone meal and related products
     3.  - (1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person shall not despatch from Northern Ireland to a member State or a third country, bring to any place in Northern Ireland for the purposes of such despatch or consign for the purposes of such despatch any - 

    (2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall prohibit - 

of any food for domestic carnivores by reason only that such food contains meat meal, bone meal or meat and bone meal derived from any mammal, provided that those materials originate outside the United Kingdom and that each stage of the preparation of the food which took place in the United Kingdom took place in an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) and in accordance with the requirements of that approval.

Trade in meat, products, by-products and materials derived from animals slaughtered in the United Kingdom
    
4.  - (1) Subject to the following paragraphs, a person shall not despatch from Northern Ireland to a member State or third country or bring to any place in Northern Ireland for the purposes of such despatch or consign for the purposes of such despatch any - 

    (2) The prohibitions in paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to any controlled bovine by-product where - 

    (3) The prohibitions in paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to any type of ECHS goods where - 

    (4) The prohibitions in paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to any DBES goods where - 

    (a) the DBES eligible animals from which the goods have been derived were slaughtered - 

      (i) in a slaughterhouse approved under regulation 10(3) in accordance with the requirements of that regulation and regulation 4; or

      (ii) in a slaughterhouse in Great Britain approved under regulation 10 of the Great Britain Regulations and in accordance with the requirements of that regulation and regulation 11 of those Regulations;

    (b) each stage of the production of those goods which took place in Northern Ireland took place - 

      (i) in a slaughterhouse approved by the Department under regulation 10(3) or an establishment approved by the Department under regulation 12(2) and in accordance with the requirements of regulations 10 to 13 which relate to that stage; and

      (ii) under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon appointed for the purpose by the Department:

    (c) each stage of the production of those goods which took place in Great Britain took place - 

      (i) in a slaughterhouse approved by a Minister of the Crown under regulation 10 of the Great Britain Regulations or in an establishment approved by a Minister of the Crown under regulation 12 of those Regulations and in accordance with the requirements of regulations 10 to 13 of those Regulations relating to that stage; and

      (ii) under the control of a veterinary inspector appointed for the purpose by such a Minister;

    (d) in the case of fresh meat, no health marks applied to the meat for the purposes of Council Directive 64/433/EEC have been removed and the goods are accompanied by an official certificate issued by the veterinary surgeon or inspector under whose supervision they were produced and which - 

      (i) states that the goods comply with the conditions set out in Articles 6 and 7 and 9 to 13 of the Council Decision;

      (ii) identifies the establishments in which they were prepared; and

      (iii) in the "identification of meat" section of the health certificate referred to in Annex IV to Council Directive 64/433/EEC identifies all the labels affixed to the goods and their serial numbers; and

      (iv) bears the words "produced in accordance with Council Decision 98/256/EC";

    (e) in the case of minced meat, meat preparations, meat products or food for domestic carnivores, the goods are accompanied by an official certificate issued by the veterinary surgeon under whose control they were produced and which - 

      (i) states that the goods comply with the conditions set out in Articles 6 and 7 and 9 to 13 of the Council Decision;

      (ii) identifies all the establishments in which they were prepared; and

      (iii) identifies all the labels affixed to the goods and their serial numbers;

    (f) in the case of fresh meat, they were obtained in accordance with Article 6(2) of the Council Decision;

    (g) in the case of minced meat, meat preparations and meat products, they were obtained in accordance with Article 6(3) of the Council Decision;

    (h) the Commission of the European Communities has carried out the inspections referred to in Article 6(5) of the Council Decision, has set the date referred to in that Article and that date has passed; and

      (i) the goods are despatched in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998.

Trade in meat, products, by-products and materials derived from bovine animals slaughtered outside the United Kingdom
     5.  - (1) A person shall not despatch to a member State or to a third country or bring to any place in Northern Ireland for the purposes of such despatch or consign for the purposes of such despatch any foreign origin export eligible goods unless - 

    (2) A person shall not despatch from Northern Ireland to a member State or a third country, bring into any place in Northern Ireland for the purposes of such despatch or consign for the purposes of such despatch any foreign origin bovine product unless - 

Registration of establishments for the production of controlled bovine by-products
    
6.  - (1) A person shall not use any premises for the production of a controlled bovine by-product of any type unless those premises are - 

    (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the Department shall register an establishment in respect of such types of controlled bovine by-products as are specified in the registration if, and only if, following an inspection of that establishment by a veterinary inspector, it is satisfied that - 

    (3) An application for the registration of any establishment under paragraph (2) shall be made in such a form and shall contain such information as the Department may require.

    (4) A person shall not produce - 

    (5) Where in the case of any premises registered under paragraph (2) - 

the Department may withdraw the registration relating to that establishment and, where it does so, it shall give notice to the operator of the fact and the reason for it.

Requirements imposed on the operator of an establishment registered under regulation 6(2)
    
7.  - (1) The operator of an establishment at which any controlled bovine by-product is produced shall ensure that the establishment, and the suitability of the controlled by-product for use in human food, animal feed, cosmetics or medical or pharmaceutical products, is clearly indicated, either by means of a label affixed to the by-product, or on its packaging or in a document accompanying the by-product.

    (2) The operator of an establishment registered under regulation 6(2) shall ensure that - 

    (3) The operator of an establishment registered under regulation 6(2) shall give the Department written notice of any material change he intends to make - 

Production of bovine by-products and consignment and placing on the market of bovine meat, products and certain by-products
    
8.  - (1) A person shall not produce any gelatin or collagen, derived from a bovine animal slaughtered in the United Kingdom, which is liable to enter the human food or animal feed chain or is destined for use in cosmetics or medical or pharmaceutical products.

    (2) A person shall not produce any gelatin or collagen, derived from a bovine animal slaughtered outside the United Kingdom, which is liable to enter the human food or animal feed chain or is destined for use in cosmetics or medical or pharmaceutical products unless it is produced in accordance with the requirements of regulations 12 and 13 relating to the production of foreign origin by-products consisting of gelatin or collagen in an establishment approved by the Department under regulation 12(2).

    (3) A person shall not consign from any place, or bring to any establishment registered under regulation 6(2), material derived from a bovine animal which includes any part of the vertebral column of such an animal unless he ensures that - 

    (4) A person shall not bring to any place in Northern Ireland or consign from any place in Northern Ireland, for the purposes of despatch from Northern Ireland to a member State or a third country, any export eligible goods unless those goods are transported in an officially sealed vehicle the seal of which has not been broken except for the purposes of an official inspection.

    (5) A person shall not bring to any place in Northern Ireland or consign from any place in Northern Ireland, for the purposes of despatch to a member State or a third country, any fresh meat which was despatched from a border inspection post, or an establishment, in Great Britain or on the territory of a member State, unless that meat - 

    (6) A person shall not bring to any establishment approved under regulation 12(2) or consign from any place in Northern Ireland to such an establishment any product, by-product or material referred to in paragraph (7) unless the establishment and member State where it was produced are clearly indicated, either by means of a label affixed to it or on its packaging or in a document accompanying it.

    (7) The products, by-products and material referred to in paragraph (6) are - 

    (8) A person shall not store, sell or otherwise supply, or offer, expose or advertise for sale or supply, or consign or despatch to any other person, any product or by-product referred to in paragraph (9) unless he ensures that - 

is clearly indicated, either by means of a label affixed to the product or by-product or on its packaging or in a document accompanying it.

    (9) The products and by-products referred to in paragraph (8) are any gelatin, di-calcium phosphate, collagen, tallow, products derived from tallow by saponification, transesterification or hydrolysis or any other tallow products, produced, otherwise than for human food, animal feed, cosmetics or medical or pharmaceutical products, from raw materials derived from bovine animals slaughtered in the United Kingdom.

    (10) A person shall not place on the market in Northern Ireland any fresh meat, minced meat, meat preparations or meat products which bear an additional mark or a mark which corresponds to such a mark prescribed by the Great Britain Regulations, or labelling or packaging which bears such a mark.

Use of controlled bovine by-products and other products
    
9.  - (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a person shall not use any - 

in the production of any product which is liable to enter the human food or animal feed chain or is destined for use as or in any cosmetic, medical or pharmaceutical product.

    (2) The prohibitions in paragraph (1)(a) shall not apply to the use of a controlled bovine by-product produced in accordance with regulations 6 and 7 or, in the case of a controlled bovine by-product produced in Great Britain, in accordance with regulation 7 and 8 of the Great Britain Regulations.

    (3) The prohibitions in paragraph (1)(b) shall not apply to the use of gelatin or collagen produced - 

Approval of establishments for the slaughter of DBES eligible animals and ECHS animals
    
10.  - (1) A person shall not use any premises for the slaughter of any ECHS animal from which ECHS goods are intended to be derived unless those premises are approved under paragraph (3) for the slaughter of such animals.

    (2) A person shall not use any premises for the slaughter of any DBES eligible animal from which DBES goods are intended to be derived unless - 

    (3) The Department shall approve an establishment for the purposes of paragraph (1) or for the purposes of paragraph (2) if, and only if, the establishment is licensed as a slaughterhouse under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997[12], and following an inspection of the establishment by a veterinary inspector, it is satisfied that - 

    (a) the only animals slaughtered on the premises are - 

      (i) in the case of an establishment approved for the purposes of paragraph (1), ECHS animals;

      (ii) in the case of an establishment approved for the purposes of paragraph (2), DBES eligible animals; or

      (iii) in the case of an establishment approved for both purposes, ECHS animals or DBES eligible animals;

    (b) there is in operation at the establishment a system which ensures that, on presentation of each animal for slaughter an inspector is able - 

      (i) to inspect and identify the animal;

      (ii) to obtain from the person presenting it positive evidence that it satisfies the relevant requirements of the Council Decision; and

      (iii) to verify that evidence;

    (c) any bovine product not eligible for despatch abroad has been removed from the establishment and - 

      (i) all parts of the premises, and equipment on the premises, used for the production, processing, treatment, handling, storage, loading or unloading of any bovine product not eligible for despatch abroad have been thoroughly cleaned after the last such use; and

      (ii) procedures have been put in place to prevent entry on the premises of bovine products which are not eligible for despatch abroad;

    (d) the methods of operation in respect of the slaughter of animals at the establishment comply with the requirements set out in column (1) of Schedule 1 and the Department has determined how those requirements are to apply to operations within the establishment as set out opposite thereto in columns (2) and (3); and

    (e) in respect of the preparation at the establishment of DBES goods or ECHS goods of any type (whether or not from animals slaughtered at the establishment) which are intended for despatch from Northern Ireland to a member State or a third country - 

      (i) the establishment is approved as an export dedicated establishment under regulation 12(2)(a) for the preparation of goods of that type; and

      (ii) the methods of operation in respect of those goods comply with the requirements set out in column (1) of Schedule 2 and the Department has determined how those requirements are to apply to operations within the establishment as set out opposite thereto in columns (2) and (3).

    (4) An application for the approval of any establishment under paragraph (3) shall be made in such form and shall contain such particulars as the Department may require.

    (5) Where, in relation to any establishment approved under paragraph (3) - 

    (a) any requirement in relation to the approval of the establishment has not been complied with;

    (b) the operator has failed to give any notice that he was required to give or obtain any agreement that he was required to have under regulation 11(11); or

    (c) DBES or ECHS animals, as the case may be, are no longer slaughtered there,

the Department may withdraw the approval and, where it does so shall give notice to the operator of the establishment of that withdrawal and the reasons for it.

Requirements imposed on the operator of an establishment approved under regulation 10(3)
     11.  - (1) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 10(3) shall ensure that - 

    (2) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 10(3) shall ensure that all DBES goods and ECHS goods prepared there, other than such goods destined for placing on the market in the United Kingdom or food for domestic carnivores (whether or not destined for placing on the market in the United Kingdom), are marked or labelled with an additional mark - 

    (3) In paragraph (2)(b), a "relevant despatch" of goods is - 

    (4) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 10(3) shall not mark any goods with an additional mark other that those required to be so marked under paragraph (2).

    (5) A person, other than a veterinary inspector or a person acting under his responsibility, shall not - 

    (6) A person shall not produce, modify, store, sell or otherwise offer, expose or advertise for sale or supply, or deposit with or consign to, any other person for the purposes of sale or supply - 

except in accordance with the instructions of a veterinary inspector.

    (7) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 10(3) shall ensure that at any time an instrument, label, packaging or official seal referred to in paragraph (6) is delivered to him or to the establishment, or otherwise to his order, he notifies a veterinary inspector of the fact with a view to enabling the inspector, or a person acting under the inspector's responsibility - 

    (8) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 10(3) shall ensure, in respect of any DBES goods or ECHS goods prepared there which are destined for placing on the market in the United Kingdom and which bear the additional mark, that the mark is removed or cancelled at whichever of the following times is the first to occur, that is to say - 

    (9) If a bovine animal is slaughtered at an establishment in contravention of any of the requirements of these Regulations and the operator of the establishment becomes aware of the contravention before the carcase of the animal or any meat or product derived from the carcase at the establishment, has been consigned from the establishment for the purposes of despatch abroad, the operators shall ensure that the carcase, meat or product is not so consigned.

    (10) If a bovine animal is slaughtered at an establishment in contravention of any of the requirements of these Regulations and the carcase of the animal or any meat or product derived from the carcase at the establishment has already been consigned from the establishment by the time the operator of the establishment becomes aware of the contravention, the operator, immediately after he has become aware of that contravention, shall - 

    (11) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 10(3) shall give the Department written notice of, and shall obtain its agreement to, any material change he intends to make to any facilities, processes or methods of operation used at the establishment in relation to the slaughter of DBES eligible animals or ECHS animals, before making such a change.

Approval of establishments for the preparation or despatch of foreign origin export eligible goods, DBES goods and ECHS goods and foreign origin bovine by-products
    
12.  - (1) A person shall not use any premises - 

unless those premises are approved under paragraph (2) for the production of, as the case may be, DBES goods, ECHS goods, foreign origin export eligible goods or foreign origin export eligible by-products of that type.

    (2) The Department shall for the purposes of paragraph (1) approve an establishment - 

if, and only if, following an inspection of that establishment by a veterinary inspector, it is satisfied that in relation to the establishment, the relevant requirements of paragraph (3) are satisfied.

    (3) The requirements referred to in paragraph (2) in relation to any establishment are that - 

    (4) An application for the approval of any establishment under paragraph (2) shall be made in such form and shall contain such particulars as the Department may require.

    (5) Where, in relation to any establishment approved under paragraph (2) - 

the Department may withdraw the approval and, where it does so, it shall give notice to the operator of the establishment of that withdrawal and the reason for it.

Requirements imposed on the operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2)
    
13.  - (1) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall ensure that - 

    (2) The operator of any establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall ensure that, in respect of the preparation at the establishment of any export eligible goods - 

    (3) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall ensure that all export eligible goods prepared there, other than - 

are marked or labelled with an additional mark before a relevant despatch of the goods from the establishment.

    (4) In paragraph (3) a "relevant despatch" of goods is - 

    (5) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall not mark any goods with an additional mark other than those required to be so marked under paragraph (3).

    (6) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall ensure that no products of animal origin derived from DBES eligible animals or ECHS animals, other than export eligible goods, are produced at the establishment.

    (7) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall ensure that all export eligible goods - 

    (8) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall ensure that all foreign origin export eligible goods or foreign origin bovine by-products are unloaded, processed or treated, stored, handled, loaded and transported separately, or at different times, from bovine products which do not comply with the conditions set out in Articles 6 and 7 and 9 to 13 of the Council Decision.

    (9) The operator of an establishment at which any foreign origin bovine by-products are produced shall ensure that the establishment, and the suitability of the by-products for use in human food, animal feed, cosmetics or medical or pharmaceutical products, is clearly indicated, either by means of a label affixed to the by-product, or on its packaging or in a document accompanying the by-product.

    (10) A person, other than a veterinary inspector or a person acting under his responsibility, shall not - 

    (11) A person shall not produce, modify, store, sell or otherwise offer, expose or advertise for sale or supply, or deposit with or consign to, any other person for the purpose of sale or supply - 

except in accordance with the instructions of a veterinary inspector.

    (12) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall ensure that at any time an instrument, label, packaging or official seal referred to in paragraph (11) is delivered to him or to the establishment, or otherwise to his order, he notifies a veterinary inspector of the fact with a view to enabling that inspector, or a person acting under his responsibility - 

    (13) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall ensure that, in respect of any export eligible goods prepared at that establishment which are destined for placing on the market in the United Kingdom, and which bear any additional mark, that the mark is removed or cancelled at whichever of the following times first occurred, that is to say - 

    (14) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall give the Department written notice of, and shall obtain its agreement to, any material change he intends to make to any of the facilities or processes used at that establishment in the preparation of foreign origin export eligible goods, DBES goods or ECHS goods before making any such change.

    (15) The operator of an establishment approved under regulation 12(2) shall give the Department written notice of any material change he intends to make - 

Fees
    
14.  - (1) The Department may charge an operator of any establishment such reasonable fees as it may determine in respect of any costs reasonably incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with - 

    (2) Where the Department has notified the operator of any establishment of a fee charged for the purposes of these Regulations in respect of that establishment, the operator shall pay to the Department the amount of the fee so charged.

    (3) A fee charged to an operator for the purposes of these Regulations shall be recoverable on demand by the Department as a debt from the operator.

Powers to stop and search vehicles and vessels and detain goods
    
15.  - (1) At any time while a vehicle or vessel is - 

an officer or an inspector may, for the purposes of the enforcement of these Regulations, stop and search the vehicle or vessel and may inspect any commercial document or official certificate accompanying any goods carried in that vehicle or vessel.

    (2) A person in control of any vehicle or vessel shall stop it when required to do so under paragraph (1).

    (3) Where an officer or an inspector has reasonable grounds to suspect that any vehicle or vessel (whether or not in a place referred to in paragraph (1)) is or may be carrying a consignment of any goods which are - 

and which he reasonably suspects may be illegal, he may search that vehicle or vessel and may inspect any commercial document or official certificate accompanying any goods carried in the vehicle or vessel.

    (4) Where an officer or an inspector has stopped and searched a vehicle or vessel under paragraph (1), or has searched a vehicle or vessel under paragraph (3), he may detain for not more than three working days any goods referred to in paragraph (3) found in the vehicle or vessel and which he reasonably suspects may be illegal.

    (5) Any goods detained under this regulation shall be dealt with during the period of their detention in such manner as the person seizing or detaining them may direct.

    (6) For the purposes of this regulation, goods are "illegal" if - 

    (7) For the purposes of paragraph (1) a "port", an "aerodrome", an "approved wharf", "transit shed", "customs warehouse" and "free zone" have the meanings respectively consigned to them in the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979[13].

Powers of entry
     16.  - (1) An inspector shall, on producing, if required to do so, some duly authenticated document showing his authority, have the right at all reasonable hours to enter any premises (other than a premises used only as a dwelling) for the purpose of ascertaining whether - 

    (2) If a justice of the peace, on sworn information in writing, is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for entry into any premises for any such purpose as is mentioned in paragraph (1) and either - 

the justice may by warrant signed by him authorise the inspector to enter the premises, if need be by reasonable force.

Seizure of illegal goods
    
17.  - (1) Where an inspector has a reasonable suspicion that a consignment of any - 

is illegal, he may require the person in control of any commercial documentation or official certificate accompanying the consignment to deliver that documentation or certificate, and any copies, to him on demand.

    (2) Where an inspector exercises the power conferred on him by paragraph (1) in relation to any consignment or any part of a consignment or where he otherwise suspects that any consignment or part of a consignment mentioned in that paragraph may be illegal, he may - 

    (3) Where an inspector exercises the power conferred by paragraph (2) in relation to a consignment or part of a consignment, he shall as soon as is reasonably practicable, and in any event within 21 days, determine whether he is satisfied that the consignment or part is not illegal and - 

    (4) Any person who may be liable for prosecution under these Regulations in respect of a consignment or part of a consignment which is intended to be dealt with by a justice of the peace in pursuance of this regulation shall be entitled to attend before the justice of the peace by whom the matter falls to be dealt with and shall be entitled to be heard and to call witnesses.

    (5) If it appears to a justice of the peace, on the basis of such evidence as he considers to be appropriate in the circumstances, that a consignment or part of a consignment is illegal, he shall, where he is satisfied that there is a relevant risk in respect of the consignment or part if it is returned to the owner, order - 

    (6) Where a justice of the peace is satisfied that there is no relevant risk in respect of a consignment or part of a consignment if it is returned to the owner, he shall order the consignment or part to be so returned.

    (7) For the purposes of paragraphs (5) and (6), "relevant risk" in respect of a consignment or part of a consignment means the risk that - 

    (8) For the purposes of this regulation, a consignment or part of a consignment is "illegal" if - 

Sampling and other checks and examinations
    
18.  - (1) An inspector shall have power to carry out all checks and examinations necessary for the enforcement of these Regulations.

    (2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1) an inspector may - 

Powers of customs officers to detain vehicles and vessels
    
19.  - (1) An officer may, for the purpose of facilitating the exercise by any inspector of the powers conferred on the inspector by these Regulations, detain any vehicle for such period as may reasonably be necessary for that purpose.

    (2) Any vehicle or vessel detained by an officer under this regulation shall be dealt with during the period of its detention in such a manner as the officer may direct.

Suspension notices and orders
    
20.  - (1) If an inspector is satisfied that there is a despatch risk in relation to any consignment or part of a consignment on business premises of any goods, products, by-products or materials of a kind described in regulation 3(1), 4(1) or 8, any controlled bovine by-products or foreign origin bovine by-products or any foreign origin export eligible goods, DBES goods or ECHS goods, he may, by a notice served on the proprietor of the business concerned (a "suspension notice"), suspend the use of the premises for - 

    (2) If a Magistrates' Court is satisfied, on the application of an inspector, that there is a despatch risk in relation to a consignment or part of a consignment on business premises of any goods, products, by products or materials to which paragraph (1) refers, the Court shall, by an order (a "suspension order"), suspend the use of the premises for - 

    (3) An inspector shall not apply for a suspension order in relation to any business premises unless, at least one day before the date of the application, he has served notice on the proprietor of the business concerned of his intention to apply for the order.

    (4) As soon as practicable after the service of a suspension notice, an inspector shall affix a copy of the notice in a conspicuous position in the premises to which it relates.

    (5) As soon as reasonably practicable after the making of a suspension order in relation to any business premises, an inspector shall - 

    (6) A suspension notice shall cease to have effect - 

    (7) A suspension notice or suspension order relating to any business premises shall cease to have effect on the issue by the Department of a certificate to the effect that it is satisfied that the proprietor of the business concerned has taken sufficient measures to ensure that there is no longer despatch risk in relation to any consignment or part of a consignment on, or likely to be on, the premises.

    (8) The Department shall issue a certificate under paragraph (7) within three days of its being satisfied as mentioned in that paragraph; and on an application by the proprietor of any business which would thereby be affected by such a certificate, the Department shall - 

    (9) Where a suspension notice is served on the proprietor of a business, the Department shall compensate him in respect of any loss suffered by reason of his complying with the notice unless - 

and any disputed question as to the right to or the amount of any compensation payable under this paragraph shall be determined by arbitration.

    (10) A person shall not contravene any suspension notice or order.

    (11) For the purposes of this regulation, "despatch risk" in respect of a consignment or part of a consignment of goods, products, by-products or material on any business premises is the risk that the proprietor of the business will despatch some or all of those goods, products, by-products or material to a member State or third country.

Obstruction
    
21.  - (1) A person shall not - 

    (2) Nothing in paragraph (1)(b) shall be construed as requiring any person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate him.

Offences and penalties
    
22.  - (1) A person shall not slaughter a bovine animal, for the purpose of deriving from the animal any DBES goods or ECHS goods, otherwise than in an establishment approved for the slaughter of - 

under regulation 10.

    (2) A person shall not slaughter a bovine animal - 

    (3) A person contravening any provision of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence.

    (4) Any person guilty of an offence under these Regulations shall be liable - 

    (5) Article 19 of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991[14] shall apply to the commission by any person of an offence under these Regulations, and Article 20(1), (5) and (6) of that Order shall apply in any proceedings for an offence under these Regulations, as if, in all of those provisions, the references to "any of the preceding provisions of this Part" were references to these Regulations.

Enforcement
     23. These Regulations shall be enforced and executed by the Department or, in relation to its district, by any district council.

Amendments
    
24. The following paragraph shall be substituted for paragraph (6) at the end of regulation 9 of the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 and for paragraph (6) at the end of regulation 5 of the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 - 

Revocation of the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 and savings provisions
    
25.  - (1) The Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998[15] are hereby revoked.

    (2) Any registration or approval of premises under the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 which is in force immediately before the coming into operation of these Regulations shall have effect as if granted under these Regulations.

    (3) Any appointment of an inspector or veterinary inspector under the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 which is in force immediately before the coming into operation of these Regulations shall have effect as if made under these Regulations.



Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture on

L.S.


Liam McKibben
Assistant Secretary

30th June 1999.



SCHEDULE 1
Regulation 10(3)(d)


Required methods of operation for DBES or ECHS slaughterhouses




Requirement Description of facility or control procedure by which the requirement will be met* Staff member(s) responsible for supervision*
     1. All bovine animals slaughtered in the establishment must have been confirmed by official checks before slaughter as being DBES eligible animals or, as the case may be, ECHS animals.

   
     2. There must be a system at the establishment to ensure that after slaughter meat is traceable back to the DBES eligible animal or ECHS animal from which it is derived or, in the case of offal, is traceable back to the batch of DBES eligible animals or, as the case may be, ECHS animals from which it is derived.

   
     3. There must be a system for recording all DBES eligible animals or, as the case may be, ECHS animals slaughtered and outgoing fresh meat which ensures that it is possible to cross check consignments entering and leaving the establishment.

   
     4. Instruments intended for application of the additional mark, labels or packaging bearing an additional mark and official seals, may be ordered only with the authorisation of a veterinary inspector.

   
     5. All new supplies of instruments intended for application of the additional mark, labels or packaging bearing an additional mark and official seals must be delivered into the control of an inspector in accordance with regulation 11(7) of the Bovines and Bovine Pro-ducts (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and maintained and applied under the control of an inspector.

   
     6. DBES goods or, as the case may be, ECHS goods consisting of fresh meat must be despatched from the premises in means of transport, or in a lockable chamber or lockable con-tainer carried on a means of transport, which is - 

    (a) not used at the same time for the carriage of any other meat derived from a bovine animal; and

    (b) sealed with an official seal.

   
     7. All cold store chambers must be capable of being sealed so that goods cannot be added or removed without breaking the seal.

   

* To be completed in respect of each approval



SCHEDULE 2
Regulations 10(3)(e)(ii) and 12(3)(e)


Required methods of operation for the preparation of export eligible goods in export dedicated establishments




Requirement Description of facility or control procedure by which the requirement will be met* Staff member(s) responsible for supervision*
     1. Approved establishments must be export dedicated.

   
     2. All raw materials for use in production for despatch abroad must be identifiable to species of origin. Foreign origin bovine by-products, foreign origin bovine raw materials and any mammalian meat and bone meal must be traceable to non-UK place of origin.

   
     3.  - 

    (1) In respect of the preparation at the establishment of any fresh meat - 

    (a) derived from DBES eligible animals; or

    (b) derived from or part of a consignment of any ECHS goods,

the meat must be deboned and all adherent tissues, including obvious nervous and lymphatic tissues, and the lymph nodes mentioned in paragraph (3) of this requirement, must be removed.

    (2) In respect of the preparation at the establishment of any fresh meat derived from foreign origin export eligible goods intended for use together with any DBES goods or ECHS goods in the preparation of any export eligible goods to be marked or labelled with an additional mark conforming with Schedule 5, the meat must be deboned and all adherent tissues, including obvious nervous and lymphatic tissues, and the lymph nodes mentioned in paragraph (3) of this requirement, must be removed.

    (3) The lymph nodes which must be removed with adherent and obvious nervous and lymphatic tissues are: - 

        popliteal, ischiatic, superficial inguinal, deep inguinal, medial and lateral iliac, renal prefemoral, lumbar, costocervical, sternal, presacpular, axilliary and caudal deep cervical.

   
     4. Foreign origin export eligible goods must be traceable to non-UK place of origin. DBES goods and ECHS goods must be traceable to the original individual animal (for meat prior to cutting) or batch of animals (for meat after cutting) at the slaughterhouse. Offal derived from DBES and ECHS animals must be traceable to the batch of animals from which they were derived.

   
     5. Arrangements must be in place to ensure that products of animal origin, derived from DBES and ECHS goods, a DBES eligible animal or an animal slaughtered for the purposes of the ECHS, are not prepared in the approved establishment if they are not export eligible goods.

   
     6. When any goods cease to be eligible for despatch from Northern Ireland to a member State or a third country, or when they are to be despatched from the establishment for placing on the market in the United Kingdom (whichever occurs first), the goods must be segregated, have their additional marks removed or cancelled and be despatched from the establishment as soon as possible thereafter.

   
     7. Cold stores must have chambers for storage of export eligible goods which are eligible for despatch abroad which can be locked under seal so that products cannot be added or removed without breaking the seal. (Lockable rails in chillers are not sufficient to comply with this requirement.)

   
     8. The operator must clearly identify foreign origin export eligible goods destined for despatch abroad which are to be despatched to an establishment which is not an export dedicated establishment and ensure it is possible to identify those goods as goods which have not been mixed with any DBES goods or ECHS goods at any stage of preparation.

   
     9. There must be sufficient identification of foreign origin export eligible goods for despatch to allow a full description of the goods to be provided on certificates required for the purposes of the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Reg-ulations (Northern Ireland) 1999.

   
     10. Fresh meat, minced meat, meat preparations, meat products and other products of animal origin of bovine origin which are eligible for despatch abroad must be marked with an additional mark in the form prescribed in Schedule 5 to the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Reg-ulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 when they are despatched from the establishment - 

    (a) for the purpose of being despatched from Northern Ireland to another member State or a third country;

    (b) to any other establishment approved under the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 for the purpose of despatch of the goods from that establishment, or subsequently from any other such establishment, from Northern Ireland to another member State or a third country; or

    (c) to any export dedicated establishment (approved under those Regulations) whether or not for the purpose of despatch from that establishment, or subsequently from any other such establishment, from Northern Ireland to another member State or a third country.

   
     11. Instruments intended for application of the additional mark, labels or packaging bearing an additional mark and official seals may be ordered only with the authorisation of a veterinary inspector.

   
     12. All new supplies of instruments intended for application of the additional mark, labels or packaging bearing an additional mark and official seals must be delivered into the control of an inspector in accordance with regulation 13(12) of the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and maintained and applied under the control of an inspector.

   
     13. There must be sufficient identification of export eligible goods for despatch to allow a full description of the goods to be provided on certificates required for the purposes of the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999.

   
     14. Export eligible goods must be despatched from the premises in means of transport, or in a lockable chamber or lockable container carried on a means of transport, which is - 

    (a) not used at the same time for the carriage of any goods not eligible for despatch abroad under these Regulations; and

    (b) sealed with an official seal.

   

* To be completed in respect of each approval



SCHEDULE 3
Regulation 12(3)(f)


Required methods of operation for the preparation of foreign origin export eligible goods in establishments which are not export dedicated establishments




Requirement Description of facility or control procedure by which the requirement will be met* Staff member(s) responsible for supervision*
     1. All raw materials for use in production for despatch abroad must be identifiable to species of origin. Materials of bovine origin and any mammalian meat and bone meal must be traceable to non-UK place of origin.

   
     2. All foreign origin export eligible goods which are eligible for despatch abroad must be unloaded, processed or treated, stored, handled, loaded and unloaded and transported separately, or at different times, from bovine products which are not eligible for despatch abroad.

   
     3.  - 

    (1) Cold stores must have chambers for storage of foreign origin export eligible goods which are eligible for despatch abroad which can be locked under seal so that products cannot be added or removed without breaking the seal. (Lockable rails in chillers are not sufficient to comply with this requirement.)

    (2) Other stores must have clear and effective segregation between foreign origin export eligible goods which are eligible for despatch abroad and bovine products which are not so eligible (though this need not take the form of a chamber locked under seal).

   
     4. Fresh meat, minced meat, meat preparations, meat products and other products of animal origin of bovine origin which are eligible for despatch abroad must be marked with an additional mark in the form prescribed in Schedule 4 to the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999.

   
     5. Instruments intended for application of the additional mark, labels or packaging bearing an additional mark and official seals may be ordered only with the authorisation of a veterinary inspector.

   
     6. All new supplies of instruments intended for application of the additional mark, labels or packaging bearing an additional mark and official seals must be delivered into the control of an inspector in accordance with regulation 13(12) of the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and maintained and applied under the control of an inspector.

   
     7. There must be sufficient identification of foreign origin export eligible goods for despatch to allow a full description of the goods to be provided on certificates required for the purposes of the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999.

   
     8. Foreign origin export eligible goods must be despatched from the premises in means of transport, or in a lockable chamber or lockable container carried on a means of transport, which is - 

    (a) not used at the same time for the carriage of any goods which are not eligible for despatch abroad under these Regulations; and

    (b) sealed with an official seal.

   

* To be completed in respect of each approval



SCHEDULE 4
Regulations 2(2) and 13(3), (4), (5), (10), (11), (12) and (13)


Additional Mark for foreign origin export eligible goods


     1. The additional mark for application to meat using a marking instrument shall consist of an elongated hexagonal mark, with two parallel straight sides of 4.5 cm length, 4.5 cm apart and joined by two shorter sides of equal length to form a point at each end, so that the mark is 8.5 cm long from point to point; bearing on the upper part the initials XAP and in the lower part the approval number of the establishment at which the mark is applied, e.g. 25/1, the letters and figures being at least 1.0 centimetre high and, together with the hexagonal mark, legible and indelible.

An example follows:



     2.  - (1) The additional mark to be borne on labels to be applied to packaging, other than the additional marks described in paragraphs 3 and 4, shall consist of a mark in the form described in paragraph 1 of this Schedule together with the following statement "the contents of this package/box were produced in accordance with Council Decision 98/256/EC"; and each such label shall have a unique sequential serial number.

    (2) Labels bearing the additional mark must be applied in such a way that they are destroyed when the package is opened or the packaging must be constructed so that it may not be re-used once opened.

     3.  - (1) The additional mark to be borne on labels to be applied to the wrapper of an individually wrapped product, or the packaging of an individually wrapped and packaged product, intended for supply direct to the final consumer shall, subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, consist of a mark in the form described in paragraph 1 of this Schedule; and each such label shall have a unique sequential serial number.

    (2) The dimensional requirements relating to size described in paragraph 1 above shall not apply and the statement "the contents of this package/box were produced in accordance with Council Decision 98/256/EC" is not required.

    (3) Labels bearing the additional mark must be applied in such a way that it is destroyed when the package is opened or the packaging must be constructed so that it may not be re-used once opened.

     4.  - (1) The additional mark to be applied by pre-printing, ink stamping or branding to the wrapper of an individually wrapped product, or the packaging of an individually wrapped and packaged product, intended for supply direct to the final consumer, shall, subject to the following provision of this paragraph, consist of a mark in the form described in paragraph 1 of this Schedule.

    (2) The dimensional requirements relating to size described in paragraph 1 of this Schedule shall not apply, the statement "the contents of this package/box were produced in accordance with Council Decision 98/256/EC" and the sequential serial numbering referred to in paragraphs 2(1) and 3(1) of this Schedule are not required; but the mark must be applied in such a way that it is destroyed when the wrapper or package is opened or the wrapper or packaging must be constructed so that it may not be re-used once opened.



SCHEDULE 5
Regulations 2(2), 11(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) and 13(3), (4), (5), (10), (11), (12) and (13)


Additional Mark for DBES goods, ECHS goods prepared in Northern Ireland, goods containing any DBES goods or ECHS goods (whether or not prepared in Northern Ireland), or foreign origin export eligible goods consisting of, or derived from, fresh meat which has been deboned and from which all adherent tissues, including obvious nervous and lymphatic tissues, have been removed


     1.  - (1) The additional mark for application to meat using a marking instrument shall consist of an elongated hexagonal mark, with two parallel straight sides of 4.5 cm length, 4.5 cm apart and joined by two shorter sides of equal length to form a point at each end, so that the mark is 8.5 cm long from point to point; bearing on the upper part the initials XEL and in the lower part the approval number of the establishment at which the mark is applied, e.g. 25/1, the letters and figures being at least 1.0 centimetre high and, together with the hexagonal mark, legible and indelible. An example follows:



    (2) The additional mark to be applied to carcases shall consist of a mark in the form described in paragraph 1(1) of this Schedule applied by means of ink or hot brand to each half of the carcase on the external surface of the thigh and the shoulder.

     2.  - (1) The additional mark to be borne on labels to be applied to packaging, other than the additional marks described in paragraphs 3 and 4, shall consist of a mark in the form described in paragraph 1(1) of this Schedule together with the following statement "the contents of this package/box were produced in accordance with Council Decision 98/256/EC"; and each such label shall have a unique sequential serial number.

    (3) Labels bearing the additional mark must be applied in such a way that they are destroyed when the package is opened or the packaging must be constructed so that it may not be re-used once opened.

     3.  - (1) The additional mark to be borne on labels to be applied to the wrapper of an individually wrapped product, or the packaging of an individually wrapped and packaged product, intended for supply direct to the final consumer shall, subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, consist of a mark in the form described in paragraph 1 of this Schedule; and each such label shall have a unique sequential serial number.

    (2) The dimensional requirements relating to size described in paragraph 1(1) above shall not apply and the statement "the contents of this package/box were produced in accordance with Council Decision 98/256/EC" is not required.

    (3) Labels bearing the additional mark must be applied in such a way that it is destroyed when the package is opened or the packaging must be constructed so that it may not be re-used once opened.

     4.  - (1) The additional mark to be applied by pre-printing, ink stamping or branding to the wrapper of an individually wrapped product, or the packaging of an individually wrapped and packaged product, intended for supply direct to the final consumer, shall, subject to the following provision of this paragraph, consist of a mark in the form described in paragraph 1 of this Schedule.

    (2) The dimensional requirements relating to size described in paragraph 1(1) of this Schedule shall not apply, the statement "the contents of this package/box were produced in accordance with Council Decision 98/256/EC" and the sequential serial numbering referred to in paragraphs 2(1) and 3(1) of this Schedule are not required; but the mark must be applied in such a way that it is destroyed when the wrapper or package is opened or the wrapper or packaging must be constructed so that it may not be re-used once opened.



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)


These Regulations revoke and replace the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998. They give effect in Northern Ireland to Commission Decisions 98/692/EC (O.J. No. L328, 4.12.98, p. 28) and 98/564/EC (O.J. No. L273, 9.10.98, p. 37) which amended Council Decision 98/256/EC (O.J. No. L113, 15.4.98, p. 32) concerning emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in relation to the despatch to other member States and third countries of bovine animals and embryos and meat and other products from bovine animals.

Together with equivalent Regulations in Great Britain, the Regulations make new provision for derogations from the despatch abroad prohibitions contained in the Council Decision in respect of the United Kingdom meat and products eligible for the Date Based Export Scheme (DBES). The Regulations also continue to make provision for the despatch abroad of meat and products eligible for the Export Certified Herds Scheme (ECHS) and the despatch abroad of meat, products and by-products produced in Northern Ireland from imported beef. The Regulations continue the existing controls on products and by-products produced from UK-slaughtered bovine animals.

Regulation 2 contains definitions and these include a definition of "additional mark" which has to be applied to goods for despatch abroad.

Regulation 3 makes provision in relation to trade in live bovine animals, bovine embryos, mammalian meat and bone meal and related products.

Regulation 4 makes provision in relation to trade in meat, products, by-products and materials derived from bovine animals slaughtered in the United Kingdom.

Regulation 5 makes provision in relation to trade in meat, products, by-products and materials derived from bovine animals slaughtered outside the United Kingdom.

Regulation 6 makes provision for the registration of establishments for the production of controlled bovine by-products, and regulation 7 imposes requirements on the operators of these establishments.

Regulation 8 makes provision in relation to the production of gelatin and collagen, the consignment of material containing bovine vertebral column to establishments regist