The Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which extend to Northern Ireland only, amend the Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 (“the principal Regulations”) in order to update the list of genera and species of plant material to which those Regulations apply. This implements Article 1 of Commission Directive 2006/124/EC which amended the list of genera and species of plants to which Council Directive 92/33/EEC (“the Council Directive”) applies. The Council Directive has been extended to apply to Zea Mays L.(popcorn and sweetcorn) and, additionally, certain botanical names used in that Directive have been amended.

The principal Regulations will now apply to the list of genera and species in Annex II to the Council Directive as it is amended from time to time (regulation 2(2)).

These Regulations also amend the cross-references in the principal Regulations to the Annex to Commission Directive 93/61/EEC (regulation 2(3) and (4)). That Annex lists certain organisms and diseases from which vegetable plant material that is to be marketed must be substantially free and in relation to which certain measures must be taken if they are found. The cross-references to the list of organisms and diseases are now to the list as it is amended from time to time.

These Regulations also update a reference and correct an erroneous cross-reference in regulation 8(4) of the principal Regulations (regulation 2(5)).

No Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations as it has no impact on costs to business.