Written Answers. - EC Regulations on EAGGF Guarantee Section.
Eamon Walsh
Question:
216
Mr. E. Walsh
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry
if he will give details, in tabular form of the amended and new regulations received from the Commission of the European Communities since March 1989 relating to the EAGGF Guarantee Section with specific reference to the controls relating to beef export refunds and aids to private storage, the amendments to the supervisory and internal authorisation procedures of Department staffs operating in beef processing plants and cold stores, the date on which each of the changes above were implemented by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the staffing and financial control measures implemented by his Department since March 1989 to ensure the prevention of fraud and less serious irregularities in these areas.
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Regulation (EEC)
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Title
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Purpose
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386/90
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Council Regulation (EEC) No. 386/90 on the monitoring carried out at the time of export of agricultural products receiving refunds or other amounts. Applicable from 16/2/90.
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Lays down minimum levels for physical checking of exports of goods on which export refunds are claimed. Such examination of goods is implemented by the Revenue Commissioners.
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2030/90
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Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 2030/90 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation No. 386/90. Applicable from 1/10/90.
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137/90
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Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 137/90 amending Regulation (EEC) No. 3665/87 as regards proof of arrival at destination in third countries. Applicable from 1/2/90.
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Restricted the range of acceptable proofs of arrival in third countries for export refund purposes, with emphasis being put on the customs import document.
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887/92
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Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 887/92 amending Regulation 3365/87 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on agricultural products. Applicable from 1/7/92.
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Strengthened the role of independent supervisory agencies with regard to the provision of import proofs for export refund purposes.
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4045/89
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Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4045/89 on scrutiny by member states of transactions forming part of the system of financing by the Guarantee Section of the Europen Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Applicable from 1/1/90.
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Lays down rules regarding the selection for sc1863/90
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1863/90
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Laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4045/89. Applicable from 2/7/90.
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2965/89
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Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 2965/89 providing for the grant of private storage aid fixed at a standard rate in advance in respect of carcases, half carcases, hindquarters and fore-quarters of adult male bovine animals. Applicable from 30/9/89.
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Lays down rules and control measures to be applied with regard to the operation of APS schemes.
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3445/90
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Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 3445/90 laying down detailed rules for granting private storage aid for beef and veal.
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Applicable from 1.12.90.
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B. Control Measures.
My Department is responsible for supervising and certifying production of beef for APS aid contracts and for intervention storge. My Department is also responsible for supervising and certifying production of male beef for export with the benefit of exports refunds and for payment of the refunds. The Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Customs) is responsible for the verification and certification of the description, characteristics and weight of the products under customs control for export and for monitoring the products while in store.
In a programme of controls upgrading at present being followed a number of new procedures are already in place. The updated control system includes the setting up of a Beef Controls Division which is responsible for systematic unannounced visits to beef plants and cold stores, on a regular basis. The unannounced visits includepost-factum checks on random selections of all aspects of the plants' and cold stores' activities. In addition a number of additional new staff have been assigned to beef plants to augment existing staff there.
In conjunction with this new Beef Controls Division a Systems, Investigation and Training Section has been set up which is responsible for follow-up investigations and for monitoring the inspection system. This includes a regular monitoring of the control arrangements, reviewing the documentary and office procedures, updating the sanctions applicable and liaising with the other State agencies involved — customs, gardaí and the legal services. That section is also responsible for putting in place an extensive training programme for new and existing control officers on an on-going basis.
The new system provides that all meat traders, meat processors, cold stores and sub-contractors involved in EC market support schemes will in future be registered by my Department and all must formally undertake to abide by the regulatory provisions. New formal and tighter contractual arrangements between the Department and those involved in intervention and deboning operations have been drawn up.
This whole new approach provides a unified, streamlined control system with full departmental control at the point of intake; a strong supervisory presence at other points of the chain; a switch in emphasis from the permanent presence towardspost factum scrutiny; a measure of mobility between plants in the assignment of control officers and strong investigative and training functions. All of this is being implemented within the Intervention Unit, set up in October 1990, to bring together within a single structure all of the Department's functions in regard to intervention and export refund activities.
In addition, in respect of beef placed in storage under the exporter refund regime I understand that Customs Authorities carry out separate control checks on a spot-check basis at different stages between placing beef under control and its exportation and also at the point of exportation. My Department and the Customs Authorities work in close co-operation to ensure the effective application of all regulatory provisions.
