The Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (Great Britain) Regulations 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which extend to Great Britain, revoke and supersede the Import and Export (Plant Health Fees) (Forestry) (Great Britain) Order 1990 and the Import and Export (Plant Health Fees) (Forestry) (Great Britain) (Amendment) Order 1991.

The Regulations, which come into force on 1st October 1996, prescribe the fees payable in respect of services provided by the Forestry Commissioners in connection with the giving, variation or suspension of authorities to issue plant passports under article 17 of the Plant Health (Forestry) (Great Britain) Order 1993 and in connection with licences under articles 28 or 28A of that Order. These services are provided in accordance with the requirements of Council Directive 77/93/EEC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (OJ No. L26, 31.1.77, p.20), as amended, and Commission Directive 95/44/EC establishing the conditions under which certain harmful organisms, plants, plant products and other objects listed in Annexes I to V to Council Directive 77/93/EEC may be introduced into or moved within the Community or certain protected zones thereof, for trial or scientific purposes and for work on varietal selections (OJ No. L184, 3.8.95, p.34).

The fees prescribed in respect of authorities to issue plant passports are introduced by these Regulations. The structure of the fees that were previously prescribed in respect of import licensing services by the Import and Export (Plant Health Fees) (Forestry) (Great Britain) Order 1990 is also revised by these Regulations. The fee in respect of an application for an import licence is raised from £275 to £305, to reflect increases in administrative costs since this fee was last altered in 1991, while the fee in respect of an application for the extension or variation of a licence with no changes or with changes requiring no scientific or technical assessment is lowered from £40 to £12.

A Compliance Cost Assessment in relation to these Regulations has been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament, and copies can be obtained from the Plant Health Branch of the Forestry Commission, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT.