Levy Boards restructuring: what's happening
Newsletters
Newsletters that provide updates on progress during the implementation of the new arrangements:
- March 2008 (PDF 60 KB)
- January - February 2008 (PDF 60 KB)
- November - December 2007 (PDF 60 KB)
- October 2007 (PDF 60 KB)
- September 2007 (PDF 60 KB)
Legislation
Legislation to establish the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and abolish the existing levy boards has been made under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Article 1 of The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Order 2008 sets out those provisions which come into force the day after the order was made i.e. 29 February. The remainder of the Order comes into force on 1 April 2008.
The Order has been registered and will shortly be available on the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website and printed copies may also be purchased from The Stationery Office. The registration number of the Order is 2008 No 576.
The summary of the consultation responses on the draft Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Order 2008 and partial Regulatory Impact Assessment which closed on 6 June 2007 is still available to view. However the six month period for access to the responses received expired on 29 February 2008.
In line with Government best practice, guidance has been produced on the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Order 2008. The aim of this guidance is to minimise the impact and burden on small and medium sized businesses that new legislation may introduce and provide time to prepare for any changes.
- Guidance note (PDF 82 KB)
State Aids
As the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) will be funded by a statutory levy, state aid clearance will need to be obtained from the European Commission for a number of activities it will undertake. AHDB clearances are being sought under the notification aid scheme or the exempted aid scheme depending on the type of activity involved.
We are in the process of obtaining under the exempted aid scheme and subject to the Commission’s approval, clearance for the English Pig Health Scheme. We are required to place a copy of the proposed scheme on our website while it is under Commission consideration.
- Pig Health Scheme (PDF 100 KB)
Milestone timeline
| Date | Milestone | Further Information |
June 2006 |
Announcement on reform of the levy boards |
|
October 2006 - January 2007 |
Fresh Start Review |
|
November 2006 |
John Bridge appointed as Chair-designate to oversee process of transition |
|
February 2007 |
Shadow board members appointed |
|
March – June 2007 |
Public consultation on the draft legislation setting up the levy board. |
|
July 2007 |
Sector Company Board members appointed |
|
19 September 2007 |
Business case and Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board name announced |
|
Autumn 2007 |
Finalisation of legislation and submission to Parlimentary process |
|
Autumn 2007 |
Corporate and business plans agreed for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and Sector Companies |
|
Early 2008 |
Legislation setting up new levy board approved by Parliament |
|
January – March 2008 |
Levy board activities receive EU state aid approval from the European Commission |
|
April 2008 |
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and Sector Companies start date |
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Page last modified: 31March 2008
Page published: 15 March 2005