Soil requirements
11.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material must only be grown in soil which is found, on the basis of sampling and testing carried out prior to the planting of such plants and material, to be free from any pest listed in Table III of schedule 6 for the genus or species concerned and which may host viruses affecting that genus or species.
(2) Sampling and testing is not required under sub-paragraph (1) if—
(a)there have been no plants which are hosts for any of the pests listed in Table III of schedule 6 grown in the relevant soil for a period of at least 5 years prior to the planting of the pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) and where there is no doubt concerning the absence of the relevant pests in the soil; or
(b)an official inspection is carried out which concludes that the soil is free from any of the pests listed in Table III of schedule 6 for the genus or species concerned and which may host viruses affecting that genus or species.
(3) Sampling and testing of the soil must be carried out during the growing period of the pre-basic mother plant or pre-basic material mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) where there is suspicion concerning the presence of the pests listed in Table III of schedule 6.
(4) In this paragraph, “sampling and testing” means sampling and testing carried out by or on behalf of the Scottish Ministers and, where appropriate, by the supplier—
(a)in accordance with the appropriate EPPO protocol; and
(b)taking into account the climatic conditions and the biology of the pests listed in Table III of schedule 6 and their relevance to the pre-basic mother plants or pre-basic material concerned.