(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement—

(a)

Commission Decision 97/125/EC (OJ No. L48, 19.2.97, p35) authorising the indelible printing of prescribed information on packages of seed of oil and fibre plants and amending Decision 87/309/EEC authorising the indelible printing of prescribed information on packages of certain fodder plant species; and

(b)

Council Directive 96/72/EC (OJ No. L304, 27.11.96, p.10) amending Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 69/208/EEC and 70/458/EEC on the marketing of beet seed, fodder plant seed, cereal seed, seed potatoes, seed of oil and fibre plants and vegetable seed, save insofar as it amends Directive 66/403/EEC (seed potatoes) in relation to which it is to be implemented separately.

These Regulations amend the Oil and Fibre Plant Seeds Regulations (as amended) to provide that certain particulars may be printed or stamped on a package of seeds rather than on a label secured to that package (regulation 2(3) and (4)). These Regulations also amend those regulations to correct a defective cross reference (regulation 2(2)).

These Regulations also amend the Fodder Plant Seeds Regulations (as amended) so that the provision that certain particulars may be printed or stamped on a package of seeds rather than on a label secured to that package is no longer limited to field beans and field peas (regulation 3(2)). These Regulations also amend those regulations to correct a defective cross reference (regulation 3(3)).

These Regulations also provide for the substitution of the letters “EC” for the letters “EEC” in the provisions set out in regulation 4(2). They provide that remaining stocks of labels bearing the abbreviation “EEC” may continue to be used until 31st December 2001 (regulation 4(3)).

A Compliance Cost Assessment has been prepared and a copy has been placed in the library of both Houses of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from the Plant Variety Rights Office and Seeds Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, White House Lane, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0LF.