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Certification and grading of seed potatoes

10.—(1) Certification and grading of seed potatoes produced in Northern Ireland shall be in accordance with this regulation.

(2) If the requirements of paragraph (3) are satisfied, the Department shall issue a certificate in accordance with paragraph (6) certifying seed potatoes produced in Northern Ireland as—

(a)pre-basic seed potatoes; or

(b)basic seed potatoes.

(3) The requirements are that—

(a)a growing crop report has been issued in relation to the seed potatoes and not withdrawn; and

(b)on official examination of lots of the seed potatoes, the seed potatoes have been found not to exceed any of the tolerances for diseases, pests, damage, blemishes or other defects specified in Group II of the relevant Table in Schedule 3.

(4) An application for certification of seed potatoes produced in Northern Ireland shall be made to the Department and shall be accompanied by such information as the Department may require.

(5) Where seed potatoes have been certified as either pre-basic or basic seed potatoes the authorised officer shall determine, in accordance with Schedule 4, the Union grades at which the seed potatoes may be marketed, where “PBTC” is the highest Union grade which may be determined for pre-basic seed potatoes and “S” is the highest Union grade which may be determined for basic seed potatoes.

(6) A certificate shall state—

(a)the name and address of the applicant;

(b)the producer’s identification number;

(c)the category of the seed potatoes;

(d)the date on which the certificate is issued;

(e)the reference number of the lot of seed potatoes.

(7) Schedules 1 and 4 make provision about the issue of growing crop report and the determination of Union grades.