Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd has given her approval to the Minister for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (Amendment) Order 2023 (the Order) to be made in the UK Parliament.
The Order will be made by the Secretary of State in exercise of powers conferred by sections 87, 88 and 97(1) of, and paragraph 6(a) of Schedule 8 and paragraphs 5 and 8 of Schedule 10 to, the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006(a).
The Order amends the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/576) (2008 Order) which established the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and requires it to impose levies to deliver services in certain agricultural sectors. The Order will:-
- Amend the Ministerial approvals process for levy rates
- Allow for the ability to set a zero-rated levy if needed to respond to sector emergencies
- To clarify the term of office of the Chair or a Board member, which can be for up to two terms and no more than eight years in total. This will bring it in line with Cabinet Office guidelines
- Amend levy deduction provisions to be consistent and more flexible across all sectors
- Extend the scope of AHDB to work with other (non-levy paying) agricultural sectors across the UK
- Ensure cereals or oilseeds levy must be paid within 30 days of receiving the levy invoice.
The Order was laid before Parliament on 6 June 2023 to come into force 21 days after it is made.