Amendments to the Eggs and Chicks (England) Regulations 2009

Q: Is regulation 5(8) of The Single Common Market Organisation (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2013 a strict liability offence?

The prosecution must prove that the conduct happened. This is a strict liability offence as drafted: the provision uses no word of intention, knowledge, recklessness or negligence, so there is no need to show that a person meant to do it, knew about it, or was careless.

regulation 5(8) of The Single Common Market Organisation (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2013

Status not determined
Strict liability
Agriculture, plant health, food production and rural affairs

This offence was read from the text as made, and no revised version was available, so a later revocation could not be ruled out. Check the current text at legislation.gov.uk.

What the provision says

8 In Schedule 2 (general EU provisions relating to eggs in shells for consumption contravention of which is an offence)–— a for Part 1 (provisions of the Single CMO Regulation) substitute— PART 1 PROVISIONS OF REGULATION (EU) 2013 Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Relevant provision of Regulation (EU) 2013 Provisions to be read with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2013 mentioned in column 1 Subject matter Article 74 insofar as it relates to the marketing of eggs Part VI of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) No 2013 and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 589/2008 Prohibition on the marketing of eggs except in accordance with the marketing standards laid down in Part VI of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2013 and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 589/2008.

Text as made, from legislation.gov.uk. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This is the text as originally made; later amendments are not shown here.

Who it binds, and what has to be proved

Binds: a person
Conduct: contravening a requirement of the instrument
Fault element: Strict liability
Burden of proof: No statutory defence — prosecution proves everything

The prosecution must prove that the conduct happened. This is a strict liability offence as drafted: the provision uses no word of intention, knowledge, recklessness or negligence, so there is no need to show that a person meant to do it, knew about it, or was careless.

Intention, knowledge and carelessness are irrelevant to guilt. They may still matter a great deal to sentence.

The provision states no defence, so the prosecution bears the burden on every element of the offence.

Classifier’s reasoning: no word of intention, knowledge, recklessness or negligence in the offence or its provision.

What would breach regulation 5(8)?

These are illustrations, not law. They are generated from the provision’s own words to show the shape of the offence. Whether any particular conduct is caught depends on the full text, on any amendment since, and on the facts.

Doing the thing the provision prohibits under the Single Common Market Organisation (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2013, whatever the reason for doing it.
Where the requirement is a positive duty, letting the time for performing it pass without performing it.

Penalty

Mode of trial: Not determined
Maximum fine: Not determined
Maximum prison (summary): Not determined

no penalty is stated in this instrument; it may be in the enabling Act, or in a general penalties provision this pass did not connect to the offence.

No penalty was determined from this instrument. It may be in the enabling Act, or in a general penalties provision this pass did not connect to the offence. Absence of a figure here is not evidence that the offence carries no penalty.

Sentencing

Offences of this kind are usually sentenced under the guidelines below. This is a mapping by subject, not a finding about this provision, and the links go to a search of the Sentencing Council’s own site.

Animal cruelty: definitive guideline Magistrates' courts in England and Wales · in force from 1 July 2017
Covers cruelty to and neglect of animals, and the associated disqualification and deprivation orders.
Health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences: definitive guideline Magistrates' courts and the Crown Court in England and Wales · in force from 1 February 2016
Covers breaches of duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the regulations made under it, and food safety and food hygiene offences. Sentencing turns on culpability and on the seriousness and likelihood of harm risked, not only on the harm that happened.
Reduction in sentence for a guilty plea: definitive guideline All courts in England and Wales · in force from 1 June 2017
The sliding scale of credit for pleading guilty, from one third at the first stage of proceedings downwards.
General guideline: overarching principles All courts in England and Wales · in force from 1 October 2019
The guideline a court uses when there is no offence-specific guideline, which is the position for the overwhelming majority of offences created by statutory instrument. It sets out how culpability and harm are assessed from first principles.
Totality: definitive guideline All courts in England and Wales
How to sentence more than one offence at once so that the total is just and proportionate - frequently in point here, because regulatory prosecutions commonly charge several breaches of the same instrument.

Prosecution figures

No published per-offence figure was found for this provision, and it could not be matched to a Ministry of Justice offence code. Offences created by statutory instrument very largely do not have one. Absence of a figure is not evidence that the offence is unused.

Status and lifecycle

Current status: Status not determined
Made: 19 December 2013
In force from: 1 January 2014
Extent: Not stated

How this was established: read from the text as made; no revised version available, so later revocation could not be ruled out.

What the instrument is for

These Regulations amend a number of Regulations (set out in Parts 2 and 3 of these Regulations) consequential upon the Regulation (EU) 2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council adopted on 16 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (“Regulation (EU) 2013”). Regulation (EU) 2013 repeals (subject to transitional and final provisions set out in Article 230) the earlier Single Common Market Organisation - Council Regulation (EU) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 (“Council Regulation 2007”) establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products. The transitional provisions set out in Article 230 provide for certain Articles in Council Regulation 2007 to continue to apply until corresponding marketing rules made under Regulation (EU) 2013 (“corresponding marketing rules”) come into force. The following Regulations set out in Part 2 are amended— a The Beef and Pig Carcase Classification (England) Regulations 2010 are amended to replace references to Council Regulation 2007 with Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 2). b The Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations 2010 (which apply in relation to England only) are amended to replace references to Council Regulation 2007 with Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 3). c The Drinking Milk (England) Regulations 2008 (which apply in England only) make provision for the enforcement of Article 114 (2) of Council Regulation 2007 (marketing standards for milk and milk products). Article 230(1)(c) provides that Article 114 is to continue to apply until the corresponding marketing rules come into force. The 2008 Regulations are amended to replace the reference in regulation 6 (sale or delivery of milk and use of sales descriptions) to Annex XIII to Council Regulation 2007 with Part IV of Annex VII (milk for human consumption) to Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 4). d The Eggs and Chicks (England) Regulations 2009 make provision for the enforcement of EU marketing standards relating to eggs for hatching, poultry chicks and eggs in shell for consumption. Article 230(1)(c) provides that Article 116 of, and certain parts of Annex XIV to, Council Regulation 2007 are to continue to apply until the corresponding marketing rules come into force. Save to the extent that Council Regulation 2007 applies, Regulation (EU) 2013 applies and the 2009 Regulations are amended to refer to the relevant provisions in Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 5). e The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (which apply in England, Wales and Scotland) are amended to replace references to Council Regulation 2007 with Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 6). f The Legislative and Regulatory Reform (Regulatory Functions) Order 2007 (which applies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) is amended to replace the reference to Council Regulation 2007 in Part 2 of the Schedule with Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 7). g The Marketing of Fresh Horticultural Produce Regulations 2009 (which apply in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) are amended to replace references to Council Regulation 2007 with Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 8). h The Milk and Milk Products (Pupils in Educational Establishments) (England) Regulations 2008 are amended to replace references to Council Regulation 2007 with Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 9). i The Poultrymeat (England) Regulations 2011 make provision for the enforcement of marketing standards relating to poultrymeat. Article 116 of, and certain parts of Annex XIV to, Council Regulation 2007 are to continue to apply until the corresponding marketing rules come into force. Save to the extent that Council Regulation 2007 applies, Regulation (EU) 2013 applies and the 2011 Regulations are amended to refer to the relevant provisions in Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 10). j The Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) and the Milk and Milk Products (Protection of Designations) (England) Regulations 2008 create offences of failing to comply with provisions in Council Regulation 2007 relating to marketing standards for fats and descriptions of milk and milk products (Articles 115 and 114 respectively). Article 230 (1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2013 provides that Articles 114 and 115 of, and certain parts of Annex XIV to, Council Regulation 2007 are to continue to apply until the corresponding marketing rules come into force. Save to the extent that Council Regulation 2007 applies, Regulation (EU) 2013 applies and the 2008 Regulations are amended to refer to the relevant provisions in Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 11). k The Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988 (which applies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) is amended to replace the references to Council Regulation 2007 in Schedule A1 with Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 12). l The Wine Regulations 2011 (which apply in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) are amended to replace the references to Council Regulation 2007 with Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 13). The following Regulations set out in Part 3, which apply in Scotland only, are amended— a The Milk and Dairies (Scotland) Regulations 1990 are amended to replace the reference to Council Regulation 2007 to Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 14). b The Milk and Milk Products (Pupils in Educational Establishments) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 are amended to replace references to Council Regulation 2007 to Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 15). c The Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006 are amended to replace the reference to Council Regulation 2007 to Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 16). d The Eggs and Chicks (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 make provision for the enforcement of certain provisions of Council Regulation 2007 insofar as they relate to eggs for hatching and farmyard poultry chicks and other eggs. Article 230 (1)(c) provides that Article 116 of, and certain parts of Annex XIV to Council Regulation 2007 (marketing standards for products of eggs) are to continue to apply until the corresponding marketing rules come into force. Save to that extent Regulation (EU) 2013 applies and the 2008 Regulations are amended to refer to the relevant provisions of Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 18). e The Marketing of Horticultural Produce (Scotland) Regulations 2009 are amended to replace references to Council Regulation 2007 to Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 19). f The Beef and Pig Carcase Classification (Scotland) Regulations 2010 are amended to replace references to Council Regulation 2007 Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 20). g The Beef and Veal Labelling (Scotland) Regulations 2010 only are amended to replace references to Council Regulation 2007 to Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 21). h The Drinking Milk (Scotland) Regulations 2011 make provision for the enforcement of Article 114 (2) of Council Regulation 2007 (marketing standards for milk and milk products). Article 230 (1)(c) provides that Article 114 is to continue to apply until the corresponding marketing rules come into force. The 2011 Regulations are amended to replace the reference in regulation 2 (interpretation) to Annex XIII to Council Regulation 2007 to Part IV of Annex VII (milk for human consumption) to Regulation (EU) 2013 (regulation 22). i The Poultrymeat (Scotland) Regulations 2011 make provision for the enforcement of marketing standards relating to poultrymeat. Article 116 of, and certain parts of Annex XIV to, Council Regulation 2007 (marketing standards for poultrymeat) are to continue to apply until the corresponding marketing rules come into force. Save to that extent Regulation (EU) 2013 applies and the 2011 Regulations are amended to refer to the relevant provisions in Regulation (EU) No 2013 (regulation 23). j The Marketing of Bananas (Scotland) Regulations 2012 are amended to replace the references to Council Regulation 2007 to Regulation (EU) No /2013 (regulation 24).

Read the full note and every offence in this instrument

Other offences in the same instrument

How this was identified as an offence

Everything above rests on the judgement that this provision creates a criminal offence, rather than mentioning one. That judgement is made by rule, from the words of the provision, and this is the rule that made it — with a confidence of 0.88.

Basis: the provision says the conduct “is an offence”; the provision says an offence is committed “if” something happens
Confidence: 0.88 of 1.00

A provision that states a penalty for an offence created elsewhere can read very like one that creates an offence, and the rules can mistake the one for the other. If the text quoted above sets a penalty for something made an offence by another provision, treat the classification on this page with that in mind, and read the instrument.

Check the source

This provision on legislation.gov.uk The authoritative text. Check it before relying on anything here.
The Single Common Market Organisation (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2013 Every offence this instrument creates, and its explanatory note
Agriculture, plant health, food production and rural affairsOther offences on the same subject
Offences created in 2013