S.L. 117.45 Art. 4Compositionofthe Council.       S.L. 431.01.

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

(a) a Chairperson with proficient knowledge, competence and experience in the agricultural sector, appointed by the Minister;

(b) the Director of Agriculture, ex officio;

(c) one (1) person representing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry responsible for agriculture, ex officio;

(d) ten (10) persons, who shall be sectorial leading representatives, each with professional qualifications or technical expertise, knowledge and, or experience in different individual agricultural sectors, appointed by the Minister as follows:

(i) one (1) representative of the dairy livestock sector;

(ii) one (1) representative of the swine sector;

(iii) one (1) representative of the sheep or goat sector;

(iv) one (1) representative of the poultry sector;

(v) one (1) representative of the rabbit sector;

(vi) one (1) representative of the apiculture sector;

(vii) one (1) representative of the vine sector;

(viii) one (1) representative of the tomato processing sector;

(ix) one (1) representative of the fruit and vegetable sector; and

(x) one (1) representative of the intensive cultivation sector:

Provided that at least two (2) of the members appointed in accordance with this sub-paragraph shall be young farmers:

Provided further that another two (2) of the members appointed in accordance with this sub-paragraph shall be of the female gender.

(2) The members referred to in sub-regulations 1(a) and (d) shall hold office for a period of three (3) years, renewable every year upon their satisfactory contribution. The members so appointed shall be eligible for reappointment for a further term or terms on the expiration of their term of office:

Provided that the members, excluding those appointed ex officio, shall not be reappointed for more than three (3) consecutive terms.

(3) The Chairperson appointed in accordance with sub-

regulation 1(a) shall also lodge his nomination to be elected as a member of the Civil Society Committee representing the agriculture, rural and fisheries sector as provided for under regulation 3(2)(g) of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development Act (Civil Society Committee) Regulations.

(4) The Minister may designate one (1) of the members as Deputy Chairperson, and the member so designated shall have all the powers and perform all the functions of the Chairperson during his absence, inability to act as Chairperson, or while the Chairperson is on vacation or during any vacancy in the office of the Chairperson:

Provided that, where the Chairperson’s absence is permanent or is such so that the functioning of the Council is affected, the Minister may appoint any other person as Chairperson and in such case the foregoing provisions shall apply in respect of such person.

(5) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, the office of a member of the Council shall become vacant:

(a) on the expiration of the member's term of office; or

(b) on the resignation of the member; or

(c) where, for any other reason, the member ceases to hold office, or if being a chosen member due to his representative state, the member stops holding that representative state; or REGULATIONS

(d) due to the unjustified absence to three (3) consecutive meetings without giving notice in writing of the reasons for such absence to the Chairperson before, or as soon as reasonably possible after the meeting. Unjustified absences for three (3) consecutive meetings shall be communicated to the Minister by the Chairperson.

(6) The Minister may, after consultation with the Chairperson, as the case may be, remove any member from office on grounds of misconduct, proved infirmity of mind or of body, or inability to perform the functions of a member of the Council.

(7) In the event that a member is removed from office, or where the office of a member is otherwise vacant, or where the member is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office, the Minister may appoint a person with professional qualifications or technical expertise, knowledge and, or experience in the field of different individual agricultural sectors as a temporary member of the Council:

Provided that a temporary member shall cease to hold such office when a person has been appointed to fill the vacancy or where the member who was unable to perform the functions of his office resumes those functions.

(8) The Director of Agriculture shall appoint an officer in the public service to serve as Secretary to the Council.