The legislation governing the establishment of the new independent Agriculture Appeals Office was enacted in July. It is envisaged that the office will be operational later this year. All appeals lodged on or after the date of establishment of the office will be referred to and dealt with by the office under the provisions of the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001, and any regulations made thereunder. Transitional arrangements will be made in respect of the appeals in hand, which were lodged with the Department under the existing appeals system, before that date and still not decided at that time.