Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (Amendment) Bill

by deleting the words “primary foods” in the 2nd and in the 3rd lines of the definition of “agri-food and veterinary sectors” and substituting in each case the word “food”;

by inserting, immediately after the word “agrotechnology,” in the 6th line of the definition of “agri-food and veterinary sectors”, the words “food biotechnology,”;

by deleting the semi-colon at the end of the definition of “member” and substituting a full-stop; and

by deleting the definition of “primary food”.

by inserting, immediately after the word “sectors” in paragraph (a), the words “, and liaise or collaborate with any organisation for the purpose of determining the standards to be prescribed”;

by deleting the words “primary foods” in paragraph (b) and in the 1st line of paragraph (e) and substituting in each case the word “food”; and

by deleting paragraph (c) and substituting the following paragraph:“(c)regulate the importation, production, processing, storage and distribution of food and products related to or connected with the agri-food and veterinary sectors;”.

As from the appointed day, such movable and immovable property vested in the Government as may be determined by the Minister for Finance and used or managed by the Food Control Department and all assets, interests, rights, privileges, liabilities and obligations of the Government relating to the Food Control Department shall be transferred to and shall vest in the Authority without further assurance, act or deed.(2) As from the appointed day, all persons employed immediately before that day by the Food Control Department shall be transferred to the service of the Authority on terms no less favourable than those enjoyed by them immediately prior to their transfer.(3) All deeds, contracts, schemes, bonds, agreements, instruments and arrangements, subsisting immediately before the appointed day to which the Government is a party and relating to the Food Control Department or to any person transferred to the service of the Authority under subsection (2) shall continue in force on and after that day and shall be enforceable by or against the Authority as if the Authority had been named therein or had been a party thereto instead of the Government.(4) Section 30(2) to (5) shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to the transfer of property, assets, interests, rights, privileges, liabilities and obligations referred to in subsection (1).(5) Sections 31(2), 32, 33, 35 and 36 shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to the transfer of persons referred to in subsection (2).(6) In this section, “appointed day” means the date of commencement of the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (Amendment) Act 2002.”.