Plant Health (Wood and Bark) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

This Order amends the Plant Health (Wood and Bark) Order (Northern Ireland) 1993 to implement as respects Northern Ireland—

1.  Commission Directive 93/51/EEC (O.J. No. L.205, 17.8.93, p. 24) establishing rules for movements of certain plants, plant products or other objects through a protected zone, and for movements of such plants, plant products or other objects originating in and moving within such a protected zone;

2.  Commission Directive 93/106/EC (O.J. No. L.298, 3.12.93, p. 34) amending Commission Directive 92/76/EEC (O.J. No. L.305, 21.10.92, p. 12) recognising protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks in the Community;

3.  Commission Directive 93/110/EEC (O.J. No. L.303, 10.12.93, p. 19) which makes changes in Council Directive 77/93/EEC (O.J. No. L.26, 31.1.77, p. 20) relating to certain protected zones;

4.  Council Decision 95/1/EC (O.J. No. L.1, 1.1.95, p. 1) adjusting the instruments concerning the acession of New Member States to the European Union.

5.  Commission Directive 95/40/EC (O.J. No. L.182, 2.8.95, p. 14) amending Commission Directive 92/76/EEC (O.J. No. L.305, 21.10.92, p. 12) recognising protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks in the Community; and

6.  Commission Directive 95/41/EC (O.J. No. L.182, 2.8.95, p. 17) amending certain Annexes to Council Directive 77/93/EEC (O.J. No. L.26, 31.1.77, p. 20) on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community.

The Order makes the following principal changes—

(a) a new definition is provided for “dunnage” (Article 3);

(b) a plant passport is no longer required for the movement of wood, isolated bark and used forestry machinery through a protected zone to a destination outside that zone, provided that certain conditions are satisfied (Article 6 and Schedule 4);

(c) a plant passport is no longer required for the landing or movement in Northern Ireland of conifer wood which has been stripped of its bark and which has been consigned from another Member State, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (Article 7 and Schedule 1);

(d) allows the Department to require a forestry trader to make a declaration of his ability and willingness to comply with the provisions of the Plant Health (Wood and Bark) Order (Northern Ireland) 1993 as a condition of being listed in the register of forestry traders (Article 8);

(e) requires prior notification of at least three days to be given to an inspector of intention to bring into Northern Ireland wood, isolated bark and other objects from countries outside the European Community (Article 9);

(f) amends the Protected zones through which movement is prohibited if wood and isolated bark are infected with certain pests (Article 11);

(g) amends the Protected zones to which wood, isolated bark and used forestry machinery may be introduced into or moved within, subject to certain conditions (Article 12 and Schedule 1);

(h) amends the Protected zones outside Northern Ireland to which the consignment of wood, isolated bark and used forestry machinery is subject to special conditions (Article 13 and Schedule 2).