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

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.