
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Common Agricultural Policy (Paying Agencies: Competent Authority and Co-ordinating Body) Regulations 2001, and shall come into force on 1st October 2001.
2 
In these Regulations—
 “the Commission Regulation” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1663/95 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 729/70 regarding the procedure for the clearance of the accounts of the EAGGF Guarantee Section;
 “the competent authority” means the competent authority responsible, in the United Kingdom, for the issue and withdrawal of accreditation of paying agencies, as described in Article 4(1)(a) of the Council Regulation and Article 1(2), (3) and (4) of the Commission Regulation;
 “the co-ordinating body” means the co-ordinating body responsible, in the United Kingdom, for bringing together and supplying information to the Commission and for promoting the harmonised application of Community rules between paying agencies, as described in Article 4(1)(b) of the Council Regulation and Article 2(1) of the Commission Regulation;
 “the Council Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 1258/1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy;
 “the Ministers” means the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Ministers, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, acting jointly.
3 
The functions of the competent authority shall be exercisable by the Ministers.
4 
The functions of the co-ordinating body shall be exercisable by the Ministers.
Whitty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
4th September 2001