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Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2005 No. 373

PLANT HEALTH

The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Made

8th August 2005

Coming into operation

1st September 2005

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development(1), being a Department designated(2) for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act(3) in relation to the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Community, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by the said section 2(2), section 56(1), (2) and (5) of the Finance Act 1973(4), and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencementN.I.

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 and shall come into operation on 1st September 2005.

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 1 in operation at 1.9.2005, see reg. 1

InterpretationN.I.

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“consignment” has the same meaning as in Article 2(1)(p) of the Directive;

“daytime working hours” means any time between the hours of 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on any day except a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(5);

“the Department” means the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development;

“the Directive” means Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8th May 2000(6) on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community as last amended by [F1Commission Directive 2006/35/EC of 24 March 2006];

“documentary check” has the same meaning as in Article 13a(1)(b)(i) of the Directive;

“identity check” has the same meaning as in Article 13a(1)(b)(ii) of the Directive;

F2...

“plant” has the same meaning as in Article 2(1)(a) of the Directive;

“plant health check” has the same meaning as in Article 13a(1)(b)(iii) of the Directive;

“plant intended for planting” has the same meaning as in Article 2(1)(d) of the Directive;

“plant product” has the same meaning as in Article 2(1)(b) of the Directive; and

“third country” means a country or territory other than one within the European Community.

(2) A reference in these Regulations to anything done in writing or produced in written form includes a reference to an electronic communication, as defined in the Electronic Communications Act 2000(7), which has been recorded and is consequently capable of being reproduced.

(3) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(8) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Consignments to which Regulations applyN.I.

[F33.  These Regulations apply in relation to consignments of plants, plant products and other objects of a description specified in the first column of Schedule 1 that are:

(a)listed in Annex V, Part B of the Directive; or

(b)seeds of Solanaceae whether or not listed in Annex V, Part B of the Directive;

and which are landed in Northern Ireland from a third country or are the subject of a agreement made under Article 12(6) of the Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 2006, to be responsible for certain matters.]

FeesN.I.

4.—(1) An importer of a consignment to which these Regulations apply shall pay to the Department the fees specified in this regulation.

(2) In respect of a plant health check carried out on any consignment of plants, plant products or other objects, other than a consignment of a plant or plant product to which paragraph (3) applies, the fee payable shall be—

(a)the fee specified in the third column of Schedule 1 in respect of a check carried out during daytime working hours; or

(b)the fee specified in the fourth column of that Schedule in respect of a check carried out outside those hours.

(3) In respect of a plant health check carried out, or which, but for Article 13a(2) of the Directive (providing for such checks to be carried out at reduced frequency), would have been required to be carried out, on a consignment of any plant or plant product listed in the first column of Schedule 2 and originating from a country listed in the third column of that Schedule, the fee payable, in accordance with Article 13d(2) of the Directive, shall be—

(a)the fee specified in the fourth column of Schedule 2 in respect of a check carried out during daytime working hours; and

(b)the fee specified in the fifth column of that Schedule in respect of a check carried out outside those hours.

(4) In respect of a documentary check or an identity check carried out on any consignment the fee payable shall be the fee specified for that check in the third column of Schedule 3.

Commencement Information

I3Reg. 4 in operation at 1.9.2005, see reg. 1

Mixed consignmentsN.I.

5.  Where a consignment to which these Regulations apply does not consist exclusively of plants, plant products or other objects coming within one description in the first column of Schedule 1, those parts thereof consisting of plants, plant products or other objects coming within other descriptions in the first column of that Schedule shall be treated as separate consignments and subject to separate fees under regulation 4.

Commencement Information

I4Reg. 5 in operation at 1.9.2005, see reg. 1

Notification of consignmentsN.I.

6.  An importer of a consignment to which these Regulations apply must submit to the Department such information relating to the consignment, in writing and in such form as the Department may reasonably require, and such information must be submitted at least 48 hours before the consignment is landed in Northern Ireland.

Commencement Information

I5Reg. 6 in operation at 1.9.2005, see reg. 1

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on 8th August 2005.

L.S.

David Small

A senior officer of the

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

The Department of Finance and Personnel hereby consents to the foregoing Regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 8th August 2005.

L.S.

Jack Layberry

A senior officer of the

Department of Finance and Personnel

Regulations 3 and 4(2)

SCHEDULE 1N.I.IMPORT INSPECTION FEES FOR PLANT HEALTH CHECKS

Commencement Information

I6Sch. 1 in operation at 1.9.2005, see reg. 1

Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
Plant, plant product or other objectQuantityFee (daytime working hours)Fee (non-daytime working hours)
Cuttings, seedlings (except forestry reproductive material), young plants of strawberries or of vegetablesPer consignment
— up to 10,000 in number£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 1,000 units [F4, or part thereof]£0.52£0.78
— maximum price£105.92£158.88
Shrubs, trees (other than cut Christmas trees), other woody nursery plants including forest reproductive material (other than seed)Per consignment
— up to 1,000 in number£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 100 units [F4, or part thereof]£0.33£0.49
— maximum price£105.92£158.88
Bulbs, corms, rhizomes, tubers, intended for planting (other than tubers of potatoes)Per consignment
— up to 200 kg in weight£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 10 kg [F4, or part thereof]£0.12£0.18
— maximum price£105.92£158.88
Seeds, tissue culturesPer consignment
— up to 100 kg in weight£5.67£8.50
— for each additional 10 kg [F4, or part thereof]£0.13£0.19
— maximum price£105.92£158.88
Other plants intended for planting, not specified elsewhere in this SchedulePer consignment
— up to 5,000 in number£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 100 units [F4, or part thereof]£0.13£0.19
— maximum price£105.92£158.88
Cut flowersPer consignment
— up to 20,000 in number£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 1,000 units [F4, or part thereof]£0.10£0.15
— maximum price£105.92£158.88
Branches with foliage, parts of conifers (other than cut Christmas trees)Per consignment
— up to 100 kg in weight£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 100 kg [F4, or part thereof]£1.32£1.98
— maximum price£105.92£158.88
Cut Christmas treesPer consignment
— up to 1,000 in number£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 100 units [F4, or part thereof]£1.32£1.98
— maximum price£105.92£158.88
Leaves of plants, such as herbs, spices and leafy vegetablesPer consignment
— up to 100 kg in weight£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 10 kg [F4, or part thereof]£1.32£1.98
— maximum price£105.92£158.88
Fruits, vegetables (other than leafy vegetables)Per consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weight£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 1,000 kg [F4, or part thereof]£0.52£0.78
Tubers of potatoesPer lot
— up to 25,000 kg in weight£39.72£59.58
— for each additional 25,000 kg [F4, or part thereof]£39.72£59.58
Soil and growing mediumPer consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weight£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 1,000 kg [F4, or part thereof]£0.52£0.78
— maximum price£105.92£158.88
GrainPer consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weight£13.24£19.86
— for each additional 1,000 kg [F4, or part thereof]£0.52£0.78
— maximum price£529.60£794.40
Other plants or plant products not specified elsewhere in this SchedulePer consignment£13.24£19.86

Regulation 4

[F5SCHEDULE 2N.I.IMPORT INSPECTION FEES (REDUCED RATES)

GenusQuantityCountry of originFeeFee (non-daytime working hours)
Where the total amount of any fee comprises an amount less than £0.01, that amount is to be excluded.]
Cut flowers
DianthusPer consignment
— up to 20,000 in numberColombia£0.39£0.59
Ecuador£1.98£2.97
Kenya, Turkey£3.31£4.96
Israel£6.62£9.93
— for each additional 1,000 units or part thereofColombia£0.003£0.004
Ecuador£0.01£0.02
Kenya, Turkey£0.02£0.03
Israel£0.05£0.07
— maximum priceColombia£3.17£4.76
Ecuador£15.88£23.83
Kenya, Turkey£26.48£39.72
Israel£52.96£79.44
RosaPer consignment
— up to 20,000 in numberEcuador£0.39£0.59
Colombia£0.66£0.99
Ethiopia, Kenya£1.32£1.98
Tanzania£1.98£2.97
Zambia£6.62£9.93
— for each additional 1,000 units or part thereofEcuador£0.003£0.004
Colombia£0.005£0.007
Ethiopia, Kenya£0.01£0.015
Tanzania£0.01£0.02
Zambia£0.05£0.07
— maximum priceEcuador£3.17£4.76
Colombia£5.30£7.94
Ethiopia, Kenya£10.59£15.88
Tanzania£15.88£23.83
Zambia£52.96£79.44
Fruit
CitrusPer consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weightTurkey£0.39£0.59
Morocco£0.66£0.99
Israel, Uruguay, USA£1.98£2.97
Egypt, Mexico£3.31£4.96
Peru£4.63£6.95
Honduras£6.62£9.93
— for each additional 1,000 kg or part thereofTurkey£0.01£0.02
Morocco£0.02£0.03

Israel, Uruguay,

USA

£0.07£0.11
Egypt, Mexico£0.13£0.19
Peru£0.18£0.27
Honduras£0.26£0.39
MalusPer consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weightChile£0.92£1.39
Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa£1.32£1.98
Brazil£1.98£2.97
China, USA£3.31£4.96
— for each additional 1,000 kg or part thereofChile£0.03£0.05
Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa£0.05£0.07
Brazil£0.07£0.11
China, USA£0.13£0.19
MangiferaPer consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weightBrazil£1.32£1.98
— for each additional 1,000 kg or part thereofBrazil£0.05£0.07
PassifloraPer consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weightColumbia, Kenya£1.32£1.98
Zimbabwe£4.63£6.95
South Africa£6.62£9.93
— for each additional 1,000 kg or part thereofColumbia, Kenya£1.32£1.98
Zimbabwe£0.18£0.27
South Africa£0.26£0.39
PrunusPer consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weightChile, South Africa, Turkey£1.32£1.98
Argentina£4.63£6.95
USA£6.62£9.93
— for each additional 1,000 kg or part thereofChile, South Africa, Turkey£0.05£0.07
Argentina£0.18£0.27
USA£0.26£0.39
PsidiumPer consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weightBrazil£9.93£14.89
— for each additional 1,000 kg or part thereofBrazil£0.39£0.58
PyrusPer consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weightArgentina, South Africa£1.98£2.97
Chile, China£4.63£6.95
— for each additional 1,000 kg or part thereofArgentina, South Africa£0.07£0.11
Chile, China£0.18£0.27
Vegetables
Solanum melongenaPer consignment
— up to 25,000 kg in weightTurkey£1.32£1.98
— for each additional 1,000 kg or part thereofTurkey£0.05£0.07

Regulation 4(4)

SCHEDULE 3N.I.IMPORT INSPECTION FEES FOR DOCUMENTARY CHECKS AND IDENTITY CHECKS

Commencement Information

I7Sch. 3 in operation at 1.9.2005, see reg. 1

Column 1Column 2Column 3
CheckQuantityFee
Documentary checkPer consignment£5.29
Identity checkPer consignment
— up to a size of a truck load, a railway wagon load or the load of a container of comparable size£5.29
— bigger than the above size£10.58

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations which extend to Northern Ireland only, come into operation on 1st September 2005 and implement Article 13d of Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8th May 2000 (OJ No. L 169, 10.7.00, p. 1), as last amended by Commission Directive 2005/15/EC of 28th February 2005 (OJ No. L 56, 2.3.2005, p. 12), (“the Directive”), which requires Member States to charge fees to cover the costs occasioned by the documentary checks, identity checks and plant health checks of certain imports of plants, plant products and other objects from third countries provided for in Article 13a(1) of the Directive.

An importer is required to pay the fee specified in Schedule 1 for plant health checks which are carried out, except where reduced import inspection fees apply (regulation 4(2) and (3)). Schedule 2 specifies reduced fees which apply, whether or not an inspection is in fact carried out, in respect of plant health checks of certain cut flowers and fruits originating in the countries specified in that Schedule (regulation 4(3)).

An importer is required to pay the fee specified in Schedule 3 for documentary checks and identity checks (regulation 4(4)).

Different types of plants, plant products or other objects contained within the same consignment shall be treated as separate consignments and subject to separate fees (regulation 5).

An importer must provide certain information concerning the consignment at least 2 days before it is landed in Northern Ireland (regulation 6).

No Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations.

(1)

Formerly the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland; see S.I. 1999/283 (N.I.1), Art. 3(4)

(2)

S.I. 2000/2812

(6)

OJ No. L 169, 10.7.00 p.1.