The Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations 2001amend the Vegetable Seeds Regulations 1993, S.I. 1993/2008, (as amended by S.I.s 1996/1452, 1997/616 and 1999/1863), (“the 1993 Regulations”). They come into force on 29th November 2001, and apply to Wales only.

The amendments to the 1993 Regulations give effect in Wales to Council Directive 98/95/EC (OJ No. L25, 1.2.1999, p.1) in respect of the consolidation of the internal market, genetically modified plant resources and plant genetic resources. This directive amended Council Directive 70/458/EEC (OJ No. L225, 12.10.1970, p.7) on the marketing of vegetable seed.

These Regulations —

(a) amend definitions in regulation 3 (of the 1993 Regulations), including the definitions of “marketing” and “official examination” (regulation 3);

(b) amend regulation 5 in relation to marketing (including the marketing of genetically modified vegetable seeds) and marketing authorisations, tests and trials, seed as grown, selection work and other scientific purposes; and make consequential amendments to regulation 4 (regulations 4 and 5);

(c) amend regulation 9 to make provision in relation to clear indications for genetically modified varieties (regulation 6); and

(d) amend Schedule 6 to make provision for the supply of information about imported seeds (regulation 7).

Similar Regulations have been made to amend the 1993 Regulations in so far as they apply to England and to Scotland by respectively S.I. 2000/1790 and S.S.I 2000/250.

Similar Regulations are being made in relation to Wales in respect of:

• beet seeds

• fodder plant seeds

• cereal seeds

• seed potatoes

• oil and fibre plant seeds.

For further information on those Regulations contact the Countryside Division, National Assembly for Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff.