(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (“the principal Regulations”). The principal Regulations implement Article 13d of Council Directive 2000/29/EC (O.J. No. L 169, 10.7.00,p.1) 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 items from third countries.

These Regulations–

(a)

extend the application of the principal Regulations to consignments consisting of goods in transit within the European Community in respect of which the Scottish Ministers have agreed with the official body of point of entry for those goods, in accordance with the Plant Health (Scotland) Order 2005, to be responsible for certain matters; and

(b)

substitute a new Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations, to give effect to the latest agreed reduced rates for inspections of certain material (Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations includes provision for reduced rates for certain plants and plant products agreed under the procedure provided for in Articles 13d(2) and 18(2) of the Directive).

The changes to the fees made by these Regulations, which are set at a proportion of the standard fee (described in Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations) corresponding to the rate of inspection, are based on the agreed inspection rates set out in the table below.

Genus

Country of origin

Previous rate of inspection

Initial fee(1)
New rate of inspection(2)

Initial fee, specified in Schedule 2

Cut Flowers

Aster

Zimbabwe

50%

£6.62

100%

Dianthus

Israel

25%

£3.31

35%

£4.63

Dianthus

Morocco

50%

£6.62

100%

Rosa

Ecuador

5%

£0.66

3%

£0.40

Rosa

Ethiopia

25%

£3.31

5%

£0.66

Rosa

Israel

10%

£1.32

100%

Rosa

Kenya

1%

£0.13

5%

£0.66

Rosa

Tanzania

25%

£3.31

15%

£1.98

Rosa

Uganda

5%

£0.66

10%

£1.32

Rosa

Zimbabwe

25%

£3.31

50%

£6.62

Fruit

Fortunella

Israel

50%

£6.62

100%

Fortunella

South Africa

75%

£9.93

100%

Malus

USA

15%

£1.98

25%

£3.31

Mangifera

Brazil

10%

£1.32

5%

£0.66

Passiflora

South Africa

75%

£9.93

50%

£6.62

Prunus

Argentina

15%

£1.98

25%

£3.31

Prunus

Chile

10%

£1.32

15%

£1.98

Prunus

Turkey

15%

£1.98

10%

£1.32

Prunus

USA

35%

£4.63

50%

£6.62

Pyrus

Argentina

15%

£1.98

25%

£3.31

Pyrus

Chile

25%

£3.31

35%

£4.63

Pyrus

South Africa

10%

£1.32

15%

£1.98

Citrus

Israel

15%

£1.98

25%

£3.31

Citrus

Peru

75%

£9.93

25%

£3.31

Citrus

Turkey

15%

£1.98

5%

£0.66

Citrus

USA

15%

£1.98

10%

£1.32

Citrus

Zimbabwe

75%

£9.93

100%

Vegetables

Solanum Melongena

Turkey

75%

£9.93

25%

£3.31

(1)

Initial fee per consignment for cut flowers (up to 20,000 in number) and fruit and vegetables (up to 25,000 kg in weight). Corresponding fees are set in the Regulations for additional quantities, maximum price per consignment and non-daytime working hours.

(2)

Consignments subject to an inspection rate of 100% are excluded from the reduced rate inspection scheme and are subject to the import inspection fees specified in Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations.

No Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared for this instrument as it has no impact on the cost of business.