Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Oil and Fibre Plants Seeds Regulations 1993 (S.I. 1993/2007) as amended (“the principal Regulations”).

The principal Regulations implement Council Directive 69/208/EEC (replaced by 2002/57/EC) on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants.

Council Directive 2002/68/EC amended Directive 2002/57/EC to provide that the seed of hybrid varieties, and the seed of varietal associations, of swede rape and turnip rape shall be included within the scope of that Directive.

These Regulations implement Directive 2002/68/EC.

These Regulations–

(a)amend the definitions in the principal Regulations of Pre-Basic Seed, Basic Seed and Certified Seed (regulation 3(2));

(b)include provisions as to marketing, packaging and labelling of varietal associations of seeds (regulation 3(3), (4), (5) and (7));

(c)include provisions as to the varietal purity of, crop inspections of, and growing conditions for, hybrids of swede rape and turnip rape (regulation 3(6));

(d)include provisions as to the certification of hybrid varieties of swede rape and turnip rape (regulation 3(6)(b)).