General exemptions
21.—(1) The prohibition in regulation 15(1) shall not apply to the marketing of seed that is authorised by a general licence made by the National Assembly under this regulation but in all other respects the provisions of these Regulations shall continue to apply in relation to the marketing of the seed.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the National Assembly may, by a general licence, exempt any person or class of persons, or persons generally, from compliance with any provision of these Regulations.
(3) The National Assembly shall not exercise the power to issue a general licence under paragraph (2) except—
(a)to the extent that the provisions of the general licence are permitted in accordance with a temporary experiment organised under Article 13a of the Cereal Seed Directive;
(b)to give effect to the provisions of a Council Decision made under Article 16 of the Cereal Seed Directive and amendments made to such a Decision; or
(c)to the extent that the provisions of the general licence are permitted in accordance with measures taken pursuant to Article 17 of the Cereal Seed Directive.
(4) A general licence issued under paragraph (2)—
(a)shall have effect during the period specified in it unless the National Assembly revokes it earlier, and
(b)may impose such conditions as the National Assembly may think necessary or desirable having regard to the marketing permitted by the general licence and the nature of the seed to which it relates, including a condition relating to the keeping of records in respect of the marketing of the seed.