Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2019 No. 230

Plant Health

The Plant Health (Official Controls and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Made

13th December 2019

Coming into operation

14th December 2019

F1The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is a Northern Ireland department designated M1 for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 M2 in relation to the common agricultural policy of the European Union.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs M3 makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 2, 3(1), 3A and 3B(1) of the Plant Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 M4 and section 2(2) of, and Paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to, the European Communities Act 1972 M5.

These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and it appears expedient to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for the references to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 690/2008 and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 (referred to in these Regulations as “the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation”) and to the European Union instruments mentioned in regulation 3(1) to be construed as references to those instruments as amended from time to time.

Textual Amendments

F1Regulations revoked (except regs. 49, 50, Sch. 5 paras. 1(1)(3), 2(1)-(6), 5(1)(3)-(5), Sch. 6) (23.12.2020) by The Plant Health (Official Controls and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/293), regs. 1, 55(1)(d) (with reg. 55(2)-(4))

Marginal Citations

M1S.I. 2000/2812.

M21972 c. 68, section 2(2) was amended by section 27(1)(a) of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 5) and by section 3 of, and Part 1 of the Schedule to, the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c. 7). The Act is prospectively repealed by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16) section 1 from exit day (see section 20 of that Act).

M3The Ministry of Agriculture became known as the Department of Agriculture by virtue of section 7(5) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act (c. 36), was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development by Article 3(4) of the Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/283 (N.I. 1) and was renamed the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs by section 1 of the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (c. 5 (N.I.)).

M41967 c. 28 (N.I.): sections 2(1) and 3(1) were amended by S.R. & O (N.I.) 1972 No. 351, article 3 and Schedule 2. Section 2(2) was amended by 1979 c. 2 section 177(1) and Schedule 4, Part 11. Sections 2 and 3 were also amended by S.I. 1984/702 (N.I. 2), Articles 15(2), 24 and Schedule.

M5Paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 was inserted by section 28 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51) and amended by section 3, and Part 1 of the Schedule to the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c. 7).

PART 1N.I.Introduction

Citation and commencementN.I.

F11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

InterpretationN.I.

F12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Interpretation: EU DecisionsN.I.

F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Article 82 of the EU Plant Health Regulation: meaning of “close proximity”N.I.

F14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 2N.I.Competent authorities

Designation of competent authorityN.I.

F15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 3N.I.Official Controls on controlled consignments from third countries and other official controls on goods from third countries

Derogations to the requirement to give prior notification in accordance with Article 1(1) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1013N.I.

F16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Suspicion of non-complianceN.I.

F17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Consignments not correctly presented for official controlsN.I.

F18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Official measures in relation to non-compliant consignments or consignments which pose a risk to plant healthN.I.

F19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Notices under Regulation 7, 8 or 9N.I.

F110. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Border control posts: authorisation of inspection centres and commercial storage facilitiesN.I.

F111. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Transitional provision: approved places of inspectionN.I.

F112. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 4N.I.Official activities to prevent the establishment or spread of plant pests

IntroductionN.I.

F113. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Notices in relation to controlled plant pests or prohibited materialN.I.

F114. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Action which may be taken by a plant health inspectorN.I.

F115. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Establishment of demarcated areas and measures to be taken in those areasN.I.

F116. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 5N.I.Temporary national measures

F117. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 6N.I.Registration, authorisations and certificates

Application for registrationN.I.

F118. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Other applicationsN.I.

F119. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Authorisations for other purposesN.I.

F120. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Authorisations granted by the DepartmentN.I.

F121. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 7N.I.Measures relating to certain solanaceous species

F122. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 8N.I.Notification requirements for the organisation of official controls

Notification requirements in relation to seed potatoesN.I.

F123. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Notification requirements in relation to citrus fruitsN.I.

F124. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Notification requirements in relation to other plants and plant productsN.I.

F125. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 9N.I.General powers of inspectors, enforcement, recovery of expenses and appeal

InterpretationN.I.

F126. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Powers of entryN.I.

F127. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Right of entry conferred by a warrant issued by a lay magistrateN.I.

F128. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Information noticesN.I.

F129. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Failure to comply with a noticeN.I.

F130. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Marking of wood packaging material: power of seizureN.I.

F131. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Recovery of expensesN.I.

F132. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Disclosure of information held by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and CustomsN.I.

F133. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Disclosure of informationN.I.

F134. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

AppealN.I.

F135. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 10N.I.General and supplemental provisions relating to notices

Miscellaneous provisions as to noticesN.I.

F136. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Service of noticesN.I.

F137. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 11N.I.Offences

GeneralN.I.

F138. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Failure to comply with requirements of notices etc.N.I.

F139. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Defence: reasonable excuseN.I.

F140. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Provision of false or misleading informationN.I.

F141. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Improper use of plant passports or certificatesN.I.

F142. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

ObstructionN.I.

F143. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Offence relating to the disclosure of information held by Revenue and CustomsN.I.

F144. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Defence: lawful disclosureN.I.

F145. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Offences by bodies corporateN.I.

F146. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Offences by partnerships and unincorporated associationsN.I.

F147. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PenaltiesN.I.

F148. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 12N.I.Miscellaneous

Minor and consequential amendmentsN.I.

49. Schedule 5 contains minor and consequential amendments to secondary legislation.

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 49 in operation at 14.12.2019, see reg. 1

RevocationN.I.

50. The instruments listed in Schedule 6 are revoked to the extent specified in the corresponding entry in column 3 of that Schedule.

Commencement Information

I2Reg. 50 in operation at 14.12.2019, see reg. 1

Transitional provisions: licences under article 36(1) of the 2006 Order or article 43(1) of the 2018 OrderN.I.

F151. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Transitional provisions: other licences under the 2006 Order or the 2018 OrderN.I.

F152. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Transitional provisions: noticesN.I.

F153. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on 13th December 2019.

L.S.

John Joe O'Boyle

A senior officer of the

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Regulation 17

SCHEDULE 1N.I.Temporary national measures

PART 1N.I.Plants, plant products or other objects from third countries

InterprationN.I.

F11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Temporary measures applying to the introduction of plants, plant products or other objects from third countriesN.I.

F12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 2N.I.Plants, plant products or other objects from another part of the Union territory

Temporary measures applying to the introduction of plants, plant products or other objects from another part of the Union territoryN.I.

F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

Inspection and control of potato plant health Dickeya spp.N.I.

F15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Regulation 22

SCHEDULE 2N.I.

PART 1N.I.General interpretation

F11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

PART 2N.I.General provisions relating to the planting of certain solanaceous species

General restrictions on the planting of potatoesN.I.

F12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Restrictions on the planting of potatoes in the protected regionN.I.

F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 3N.I.Measures for the control of Potato wart disease

InterpretationN.I.

F14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Official measures relating to contaminated plots of landN.I.

F15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Prohibition on the planting of potatoes on contaminated plotsN.I.

F16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Revocation of the demarcation of a contaminated plotN.I.

F17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 4N.I.Measures for the control of European populations of Potato cyst nematode

InterpretationN.I.

F18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Official investigations and surveysN.I.

F19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Official records of investigations and surveysN.I.

F110. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Notices in relation to infested fields and contaminated susceptible materialN.I.

F111. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Prohibition on the planting of potatoes in infested fieldsN.I.

F112. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Controls on contaminated seed potatoes etc.N.I.

F113. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Controls on potatoes for industrial processing or gradingN.I.

F114. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Controls on contaminated bulbs etc.N.I.

F115. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Further investigations for the presence of Potato cyst nematodesN.I.

F116. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 5N.I.Measures for the control of Potato ring rot

InterpretationN.I.

F117. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Official surveys and testingN.I.

F118. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Measures to be taken following the confirmation of the presence of Potato ring rotN.I.

F119. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Restrictions in relation to susceptible material or objects contaminated or possibly contaminated with Potato ring rotN.I.

F120. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Measures in relation to a contaminated place of productionN.I.

F121. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Additional measures applicable to a unit of protected crop productionN.I.

F122. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Measures to be taken in demarcated zones for the control of Potato ring rotN.I.

F123. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 6N.I.Measures for the control of Potato brown rot

F124. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

Official surveys and testingN.I.

F125. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Measures to be taken following the confirmation of the presence of Potato brown rotN.I.

F126. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Restrictions in relation to susceptible material or objects contaminated or possibly contaminated with Potato brown rotN.I.

F127. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Measures which may be required in relation to a contaminated place of productionN.I.

F128. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Additional measures in relation to units of protected crop productionN.I.

F129. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Measures to be taken in demarcated zones for the control of Potato brown rotN.I.

F130. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Regulation 38(1)(d) to (f)

SCHEDULE 3N.I.Offences: relevant provisions in the EU Regulations

PART 1N.I.The EU Plant Health Regulation

F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART 2N.I.The Official Controls Regulation

F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART 3N.I.Other EU legislation

F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Regulation 38(1)(g)

SCHEDULE 4N.I.EU emergency decisions relating to plant health

PART 1N.I.Offences relating to the EU Decisions

F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Regulation 49

SCHEDULE 5N.I.Amendments to secondary legislation

PART 1N.I.The Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995

1.—(1) The Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 M6 are amended as follows.N.I.

F1(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) In regulation 8(2), for “Council Directive 2000/29/EC” substitute “ the EU Plant Health Regulation ”.

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I3Sch. 5 para. 1 in operation at 14.12.2019, see reg. 1

Marginal Citations

M6S.R. 1995 No. 415.

PART 2N.I.The Marketing of Ornamental Plant Propagating Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

2.—(1) The Marketing of Ornamental Plant Propagating Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 are amended as follows.N.I.

(2) In regulation 2(1)—

(a)omit the definition of “Directive 2000/29/EC”;

(b)at the appropriate place insert—

““the EU Plant Health Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 69/464/EEC, 74/647/EEC, 93/85/EEC, 98/57/EC, 2000/29/EC, 2006/91/EC and 2007/33/EC.

“the Plant Health Official Controls Regulations” means the Plant Health (Official Controls and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019;”.

(3) In regulation 6A(4), in the definition of “responsible official body”, for the words from “a body” to the end, substitute “ an appropriate authority described in regulation 2(1) of the Plant Health Official Controls Regulations ”.

(4) For regulation 7(5) substitute—

“(5) Registration of a supplier on the register of professional operators under regulation 5 of the Plant Health Official Controls Regulations is deemed to constitute registration for the purposes of paragraph (1) above.”.

(5) In regulation 8(3)—

(a)for the words from “a plant pest” to “Order (Northern Ireland) 1993” substitute “ a controlled plant pest as defined in regulation 2(1) of the Plant Health Official Controls Regulations ”;

(b)for the words from “article 20” to “certain plant pests” substitute “ the EU Plant Health Regulation ”.

(6) In regulation 9(2), for “Directive 2000/29/EC” substitute “ the EU Plant Health Regulation ”.

F1(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I4Sch. 5 para. 2 in operation at 14.12.2019, see reg. 1

PART 3N.I.The Forest Reproductive Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

PART 4N.I.The Seed Potatoes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

F14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

PART 5N.I.The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

5.—(1) The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 M7 are amended as follows.N.I.

F1(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) In regulation 3(1), omit the definition of “Directive 2000/29/EC”.

(4) Omit regulation 10(6).

(5) In regulation 11(7), for the words from “plant trader” to “2006” substitute “ professional operator under regulation 4 of the Plant Health Official Controls Regulations ”.

F1(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I5Sch. 5 para. 5 in operation at 14.12.2019, see reg. 1

Marginal Citations

M7S.R. 2017 No. 119.

Regulation 50

SCHEDULE 6N.I.Revocation of Instruments

Commencement Information

I6Sch. 6 in operation at 14.12.2019, see reg. 1

Instrument revoked	Reference	Extent of revocation
The Plant Health (Wood and Bark) (Phytophthora ramorum) Order (Northern Ireland) 2005	S.R. 2005 No. 252	The whole instrument
The Plant Health (Wood and Bark) Order (Northern Ireland) 2006	S.R. 2006 No. 66	The whole instrument
The Plant Health (Wood and Bark) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009	S.R. 2009 No. 340	The whole instrument
The Plant Health (Wood and Bark) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010	S.R. 2010 No. 48	The whole instrument
The Plant Health (Wood and Bark) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012	S.R. 2012 No. 400	The whole instrument
The Plant Health (Wood and Bark) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015	S.R. 2015 No. 129	The whole instrument
The Seed Potatoes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016	S.R. 2016 No. 190	Regulation 25(3)
The Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 2018	S.R. 2018 No. 184	The whole instrument
The Plant Health (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019	S.R. 2019 No. 49	The whole instrument
The Plant Health (Wood and Bark) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019	S.R. 2019 No. 99	The whole instrument
The Plant Health (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019	S.R. 2019 No. 151	The whole instrument
The Plant Health (Amendment No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019	S.R. 2019 No. 160	The whole instrument
The Plant Health (Wood and Bark) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019	S.R. 2019 No. 162	The whole instrument

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations give effect to—

(a)

Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (“the EU Plant Health Regulation”); and

(b)

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, in so far as it applies to the rules referred to in Article 1(2)(g) (“the official Controls Regulation”).

The Regulations also implement in relation to Northern Ireland—

(a)

Council Directive 69/464/EEC on control of Potato Wart Disease (O.J. No. L 323, 24.12.1969, p. 1);

(b)

Council Directive 93/85/EEC on the control of potato ring rot (O.J. No. L 259, 18.10.1993, p. 1);

(c)

Council Directive 98/57/EC on the control of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al. (O.J. No. L 235, 21.8.1998, p. 1); and

(d)

Council Directive 2007/33/EC on the control of potato cyst nematodes and repealing Directive 69/465/EEC (O.J. No. L 156, 16.6.2007, p. 12).

Part 1 is introductory and includes definitions. Regulation 3(2) provides for references to the European Union instruments listed in regulation 3(1) to be read as references to those instruments as amended from time to time.

Regulation 5 designates the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs as the competent authority in Northern Ireland.

Part 3 makes further provision in relation to consignments of plants, plant products and other objects from third countries which are subject to official controls on their entry into the European Union.

Part 4 contains powers to enable plant health inspectors appointed by the Department to take measures to prevent the establishment or spread of harmful plant pests in Northern Ireland.

Part 5 imposes additional temporary measures to prevent the entry of certain harmful plant pests into Northern Ireland or their establishment in, or spread within, Northern Ireland.

Part 6 makes further provision in relation to the registration of professional operators and the granting of authorisations to professional operators by the Department.

Part 7 imposes additional requirements in relation to certain solanaceous species (potatoes and tomatoes) to implement the Directives mentioned above.

Part 8 imposes additional notification requirements in respect of certain plants and plant products which are to be brought into Northern Ireland from third countries, other member States or Switzerland.

Part 9 sets out general powers of plant health inspectors to enable them to perform official controls and other official activities, and enforce the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation and these Regulations. Regulation 32 provides for recovery of expenses incurred by the Department and regulation 35 provides for an appeal process.

Part 10 contains general and supplemental provisions in relation to notices given by plant health inspectors.

Part 11 contains offences for non-compliance with specified provisions of the EU Plant Health Regulation and the Official Controls Regulation, and offences in relation to these Regulations. Regulation 48 sets out the penalties for these offences.

Part 12 deals with minor and consequential amendments to secondary legislation, revocations and transitional provisions in relation to Northern Ireland. Regulation 55 requires the Department to review the operation and effect of the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation and these Regulations and publish a report at five-yearly intervals.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.