S.L. 117.35 ст. 4Compositionofthe Council.

(1) The Council shall be composed of the following members:

(a) a Chairperson;

(b) six representatives of the Government, nominated and appointed as follows:

*These regulations have been repealed by Legal Notice 248 of 2022.

(i) one person representing the Office of the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry responsible for agriculture; and

(ii) one person representing the Agriculture Directorate within the Ministry responsible for agriculture; and

(iii) one person representing the Plant Health Directorate within the Ministry responsible for agriculture; and

(iv) one person representing the Diversification and Competitiveness Directorate within the Ministry responsible for agriculture; and

(v) one person representing the Veterinary Services Directorate within the Ministry responsible for agriculture; and

(vi) one person representing the Agriculture & Rural Payments Agency within the Ministry responsible for agriculture;

(c) seven persons, each with professional qualifications, or technical expertise and, or knowledge and experience in matters related to agriculture, appointed as follows:

(i) one agricultural economist or agri-business expert;

(ii) one agricultural marketing expert;

(iii) two representatives from the agro-industry sector;

(iv) one livestock nutritionist;

(v) one agronomist; and

(vi) one soil scientist;

(d) the Chairperson of the Crop Farming Committee ex and officio;

(e) the Chairperson of the Livestock Sector Committee ex officio.

(2) For each of the members nominated in accordance with sub-regulation (1)(b) to (e), both inclusive, there shall be an equal number of substitute members representing those same representatives of the Government, Ministry, Directorates, experts or committees and who shall have the right to attend meetings in the absence of nominated members.

(3) The term of office of the members shall be of three years and they shall be eligible for re-appointment for further term or terms, provided that a member of the Council appointed in accordance with sub-regulation (1)(b) and (c) shall not hold office for a period exceeding three consecutive terms.

(4) Members of the Council or committees who are absent for three consecutive meetings without a valid reason and without giving notice in writing of the reasons for such absence to the Chairperson of the Council or committees before or as soon as may reasonably be after the meeting, shall be declared by the Council or committee to have resigned: Provided that the Minister, after consultation with the Chairperson or committee, as the case may be, may remove any such member from office on grounds of misconduct, proved infirmity to perform the functions of a member of the Council or committees, or if any member appointed in accordance with sub-regulation (1)(b) to (e), both inclusive, ceases to hold office at an earlier date.

(5) The Minister may designate one of the members of the Council as Deputy Chairperson and the member so designated shall have all powers and perform all and any of the functions of the Chairperson during his absence, or in the event of inability to act as Chairperson, or during any vacancy in the office of Chairperson.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this regulation, the Minister may, in any of the circumstances mentioned above in this sub-regulation, appoint another person to act as Chairperson.

(6) In the event a member of the Council resigns or if the office of a member of the Council is otherwise vacant or if the member is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office, the Minister may appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed to be a temporary member of the Council, and any person so appointed shall, subject to the provisions of this regulation, cease to be such a member when a person has been appointed to fill the vacancy or, as the case may be, when the member who was unable to perform the function of his office resumes those functions.

(7) The Council may act and perform its functions notwithstanding any absence or vacancy amongst its members provided that there is a quorum present at the meeting of at least eight members of the Council.

(8) In the exercise of its functions or in its deliberations on specific issues or cases, the Council may request the input of persons engaged in the public sector and, or public entities. The Council may also request appropriate expertise from, or collaboration with, third parties, as it may deem appropriate.

(9) The Council shall be consulted by the Minister when regulations are made under the Act for the regulation of the procedures to be adopted by the Council, including but not limitedly to, the filling of casual vacancies, loss of mandate and substitution of members.

(10) The Council shall appoint a Secretary to keep minutes and a record of the meetings and of its decisions.

(11) The provisions of this regulation shall apply mutatis to committees established under these regulations. mutandis